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Prayer Life


We live in a world where instant gratification is the aim. People stand in lines glued to their smartphones because they do not want to spend a second without being amused or entertained. While there is nothing inherently wrong with spending time on tech, we must be careful that we do not fall into the pattern of impatience it can create.

The most important thing in life is not money or many friends. It is a deep connection with Christ. To achieve this connection we must have a strong prayer life. Many Christians approach prayer in different ways. For the Catholic is contains a rosary and candles; for the Protestant closed hands and closed eyes. The ritual practice of prayer is not as important as communing with our Creator. Prayer is often believed to be petitioning God. Most prayers sound like superstitious summons for protection or sitting on the lap of Santa God and asking Him for things. Our Lord does want to keep us safe and he does want to bless us with the desires of our heart. (Matthew 6:33). But prayer is suppose to be more than just petitioning, it is suppose to be a personal means of touching and connecting with God.

As believers we should seek the presence of the Almighty in our prayers. We should be still and open our hearts to His voice and comforting touch. We should not be so caught up in religious rote or ritual that we neglect to have a relationship with our Lord and Savior. The price Christ paid to re-establish the connection between us and Him was death on a cross. As Christians we should not take lightly such a sacrifice.

So how does one develop a prayer life? Is there six step program or a list of what to do? The answer is no. While the Bible gives us many examples of what prayer looks like, only you personally can discover what works best for connecting to Jesus. The rosary and icons were not in the time of St. Peter and St. Paul, so I cannot speak regarding those scripturally. However, the goal of prayer life should be more than requests, it should be relating to God. For some this will come very naturally. For those who have a experiancial and emotional make  up, feeling the presence of God's Spirit will come easy. But for those who are more analytical and practical, it can be a learning curve. The point is not to grade yourself or to measure your prayer life by someone else. What matters is that you want a deeper prayer life. You are already one step closer by desiring a closer connection with Christ! Do not get bogged down in the Satanic comparison of yourself with someone else.

As I stated earlier, how we pray can vary. For some it is best to be still and center in on their heart beat until they feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. For others it may require praying in Tongues or reciting an Our Father prayer repeatedly. There is no exact formula, the point is to disconnect from this world and the people in it and connect to Christ and The Creator. For those that have learning differences such as ADHD this can be challenge because it means being still. Well I have hope for you, Messianic (Christian) Jews and Orthodox priests do not stand still when they pray. In fact, they stand up and rock back in forth as if dancing before the Lord. This might be for you or it might not. The point is that you find the way that works best for you to touch the presence of the Trinity.

A deep prayer life can be the greatest joy of life. Entering the presence of the Creator and Christ is fulfilling in a way nothing else is. I urge you to take time and start a prayer life. In addition to prayers for protection and requests for healing or help, spend some time just seeking the Lord and trying to connect with Him. Start with a manageable amount of time at first, maybe three to five minutes during your morning and nightly prayers. Then as more time is freed up increase that time if you can. Trust me, it will be well worth your time and it will change your life.

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