Couple of quotes I'm reflecting on (thanks Jordon):
As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer. -- Henri J. NouwenReal prayer comes not from gritting our teeth, but from falling in love. -- Richard Foster
Pray without ceasing. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Sometimes it's these little quotes that can really grab me, pull me up short, cause me to catch my breath, and take me in a new direction for the day.
Why pray without ceasing? Because, first of all it frees me from my incessant thinking patterns that are like the mouse running on a wheel and going nowhere. Prayer gets me off the wheel and into the divine life where perspectives are bigger and life is simpler.
Why pray without ceasing? Because, secondly, it moves me from "just doing" life to "falling in love" life. Why live life on automatic pilot when I can turn my thoughts and heart toward a rapturous love that is real and engaging?
There is an interesting progession here. Many times I turn to prayer, not because I believe or expect it to be "rapturous," but because I have worn my brain out with unceasing thinking. I'm spent. There's nothing left to think that hasn't been thought, and I realize that I need something more.
This is really an okay reason to begin prayer. "God, get me out of myself and my limitations!"
The amazing thing is, if we will persevere in prayer and in developing our prayer life, we will discover that prayer transports us into a relationship that truly is "out of this world." Why? Because prayer is, in essence, a prayer language. It is the language of romance between two lovers. It is the exchange of thoughts and intimacies between "persons" One of whom is infinitely passionate and jealous with love for the other. It may take us minutes, days, months, or years to realize it. But if we will continue to use this language of prayer... and realize what it is... we will find ourselves more and more aware that prayer is about "falling in love."
I really needed this reminder today. What an awesome love experience is available through turning on the flow of my love language. It's not automatic. Sometimes prayer is dry as a bone. But that's okay, because the time will come again when the language grabs my heart and pulls me toward Him into something that is so much more than anything on earth. I am finding that even when I am not experiencing those times, using my love language and anticipating those times is enough.
"Real prayer... falling in love." I have a fresh anticipation that contemplation and prayer will refresh me with the Romance. For now, the anticipation itself is enough.
(Inner Journey is an interactive daily devotional. Feel free to post comments!)
Prayer & romance was a striking part of the Interior Castle. I had never before put prayer into that sort of model, but reading St Teresa's book on contemplative prayer put it there for me!
Posted by: Steve Bogner | February 24, 2004 at 04:04 AM