“HOW TO
PRAY” is a question that again confronted
me when I was reading the ANAWIM WAY booklet which provides a meditation on the
Word of God, dated Feb. 19, 2013.
The
meditation begins with a definition of prayer which reads: “The Church teaches
us that “prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their
Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy
Spirit” (CCC 2565).
I have been
taking it for granted that I already know how to pray. However, the following statements made me
realize that there is still much more I have to learn on the art of praying.
1. We are not in control when we pray. We cannot make God speak to us, any more than
we can make rain fall from the sky.
2. Prayer begins with allowing God to be in control.
3. Prayer is more than words.
It is words that come from the heart.
4. Jesus links prayer with forgiveness. If we pray with an unforgiving heart we are
not opening ourselves to God.
5. The Lord teaches us not to allow anything, especially a
refusal to forgive, to block our open communication with him.
6. We do not have to worry about concentrating on the words, as
long as our hearts desire union with our Father in heaven.
7. We pray for his will to be done, and his will is that we be
united in love and truth with all his children.
Reflecting on the foregoing
statements I made a three-point guide to make my prayer
effective.
1. Open my heart and allow God to be in control.
2. Remove everything that may block God’s grace into my heart,
any sinful desires or refusal to forgive.
3. Pray with words coming from my heart.
Prayer is, indeed, a great privilege
. It is talking with GOD – the Supreme Being in this
world. It is a privilege that God may
grant to those whom He considers to be in the right disposition to have a
living relationship with him. Hence, I
believe that I should always see to it that when I pray I should always begin
with a contrite heart, asking forgiveness for whatever sins I may have
committed and sincerely forgiving anyone and everyone who may have hurt me, and
then allow God to communicate with me as he pleases.
by: Buddy Cagurangan
Feb. 19, 2013
