Oh, talking. We
looovveee talking. I mentioned yesterday that we crave attention, we want to be heard -- always. This is also particularly present in a love relationship. When you are on a date, you try to open up as much information about your self as possible. The more you share information, the more the relationship gets deeper.
Unfortunately, though, in our love relationship with Jesus, this is almost always not present. "But I do pray -- during meals, before I sleep, and sometimes the rosary"
My wife once asked her friend during a discussion about her problem, "Do you pray?"
Friend said, "Yes I do."
"Do you pray as if you are talking with a friend?"
Silence, and then, "No. How do you do that?"
Apparently, our general view of prayer is an organized, repetitive and sometimes flowery set of words. I grew up in a very traditional church where prayers include words such as "thou", "thee", "thou art", "speaketh"... As if we were praying to impress God with our old English! Most of you can also relate with the rosary. I once studied in a Roman Catholic school in high school. We were taught how to make and pray the rosary. While I sincerely and honestly doesn't have anything against praying the rosary, I just think that there is a better way to pray than saying memorized, repetitive words.
Prayer is like a friendly talk with Jesus. You tell him your life's concerns, your dreams, your struggles, your heart aches. Prayer is not just about telling him what you want and what you need. It is also the time where you unload yourself to him. While others may suggest a format in your prayer, I would say, just start with a sincere talk with Jesus. Imagine him sitting beside you -- because he is! -- and start talking to him.
While the Bible is his way to talk to us, our prayer is the time when he listens to us. In your quiet time today, tell him about your successes and your failures. Ask for directions, unload your burdens to him. If Jesus indeed rose from the dead and is alive today, he is literally listening to your every word in prayer.
