Pray, Pray, Pray!

Prayer - what is it? How do you do it? Am I doing it right?

Many people are perplexed by this word, others simply have a very narrow outlook on what it is to pray. Let me start off with what it is not. It is not simply saying the right words strung together in a sentence, though that is the most common-known methods of prayer. It is more than that. It is a conversation with God that cannot take the form of words. Simply put, prayer is the language of the soul. Those little niggling thoughts we have at times, usually when deep in thought or conversation with God, those spontaneous ideas that are "God-given" - are all the fruits of prayer.

Some people find themselves thinking too much when it comes to prayer. Some make long lists of prayers to say then wonder why they are failing in making a commitment to keep up their "spiritual health". Isn't it always the way - the things that seem so simple, we end up complicating by thinking about it too much.

The dishes need washing, but perhaps if I leave it another day, I can save that little bit of time filling the sink with water now and do it tomorrow! Tomorrow does come, but no sooner is it here, we make yet another "tomorrow". Before we know it, the sink is full of dishes and you have forgotten what colour your bench-top is and you are overwhelmed with all these dishes that need washing and will require filling and emptying the sink numerous times!

Prayer does not need to be hard, that is the beauty of it! Anyone can pray - from the most educated of us through to the youngest, the frailest, most un-educated or even mentally-disabled. All prayer is, is a conversation with God. Because a typical conversation is made up of words, most people stumble in their definition of prayer.

Prayer can be writing in a journal, drawing a picture, looking at the sunrise - almost anything imaginable that will open your mind, soul and body to God. When you are doing something that you enjoy rather than simply trying to connect to someone (God) whom you cannot physically hear, it can open your mind up even more!

Think of something you love doing - for me it is drawing or writing - then think of the amount of inspiration that can give you, how your thoughts whilst partaking in that activity can lead to great things. Effectively, you are talking to God, though you may not notice it. You may think that you are simply having a conversation with your sub-conscious. At times, you are, but at other times, it can work like a one-way-deposit-system from God. You are relaxing, taking time to enjoy what you do, you are more open to new things, and God can plant a mustard-seed in you that one day will bloom!

Next time you struggle with praying, think of some different ways you can go about it! Reading the Bible (Lectio Divina), drawing, writing, even singing! There is no right or wrong way, just give anything a try! You can only love it and go back for more, decide it wasn't the right style for you, or perhaps it needs a little perseverance. Either way, you will be on your way to creating a fruitful, more varied prayer life.