To fulfill your spiritual
mission, Jesus must be the center of your life. This can happen through prayer.
We are praying for the grace of
a holy and intimate prayer time.
Reflection Eleven
Reflections taken from Grace-Filled
Moments
Raising our Hearts and Minds to God
Before prayer, endeavor to realize whose Presence you are approaching, and to whom you are about to speak. We can never fully understand how we ought to behave towards God, before whom the angels tremble. … I know that many persons who say vocal prayers are raised by God to high contemplation without their knowing how. … And mental prayer, in my view, is nothing but friendly intercourse and frequent solitary conversations, with him Who we know loves us. (A Potpourri of Quotations)
St. Teresa of Avila
Dear Lord,
Open my heart to experience a true life of prayer. Guide me down this path that leads to the springs of living water and everlasting life. May my prayers be spoken from my heart. May each word that leaves my lips express my love and affection. May I experience frequent and wonderful conversations with You. In humility I stand before You, awestruck to be given such a divine invitation. You are my Lord and my God! Amen.
Scripture Passage for Meditation:
But when you go to pray, go to your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you
(Matthew 6:6). RSV
Daily Reflection:
· Read the excerpt from Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life in the Appendix. What are my favorite vocal prayers? How can I pray them with greater reverence and devotion?
· In what ways do I practice spontaneous vocal prayer? Do these words spring from the abundance of my heart or are they “noisy gongs clanging?” How can ejaculations interspersed throughout the day help to cultivate an ongoing attitude of prayer in me?
· How conversational is my prayer with Jesus? Would I consider it to be mental prayer? What can I do to cultivate mental prayer in my prayer time?
· Jesus tells me to go to my room, shut the door, and pray in private. How does my prayer environment contribute to my time of prayer? What can I do to make my prayer “closet” a help and not a hindrance to my prayer.
