Truth and Beauty
Page: Prayer

Home
About Us
Truth
   About God
   The Experience of God
   The God of Grace
   Amazing Grace
   God's Grace and Mercy - Another View
   God's Grace in Small Things
   Walking with God
   God's Gifts and User Manual
   God's Loving Care
   The Dynamic God
   Our Awesome and Incomprehensible God
   God, Creation and Truth
   The Common Aim of all Godly Religions
   Living Buddha, Living Christ
   About the Bible
   Bible as the Word of God
   Inspiration of the Scriptures
   Another Reflection on the Bible
   Truth Versus Facts
   The Bible at your Fingertips
   Letter from a Loving God
   Book About Basic Bible Teachings
   About the Universe
   Nature and the Universe
   Life's Origin
   Our Unique Planet
   Mind of the Universe
   The Nature of Creation and Existence
   Metaphysical View of the World
   Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 1
   Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 2
   About Humanity
   Nature of Humans
   Of Creators and Creations
   Truth and Perceptions
   Our Present State and Divine Potential
   Hidden Treasure Within Us
   Precious Balls of Clay
   Intertwining of Humanity and Divinity
   Conversion
   Finding One's Mission in Life
   Living with Paradox
   Scripture Bell
   The Potential Good Within Evil
   About Health and Happiness
   Key Principles for Health and Happiness
   Twelve Laws of Spirit
   40 Spiritual Principles
   Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
   Wisdom from Rumi
   Aspects of Spiritual Life
   First Things First
   Disciplined Living
   Compassion
   Listening
   Experiencing Joy
   Each Day is a Gift
   Dealing with Suffering
   Living in the Present
   Other Aspects of Living in the Now
   Mindfulness
   Choose Life
   Dealing with Change
   Acceptance
   Prayer
   Prayer -- Another Perspective
   Serenity Prayer
   The Lord's Prayer
   Prayer to Magnify God
   Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
   Pax -- the Peace of God's Presence
   Let There Be Peace on Earth
   Human Relationships
   Children About Love
   Inspiration from the Lives of a Godly Couple
   Desiderata
   References
   Reviews
Beauty
   Skies and Seas
   Glorious Sunrises
   Beautiful Skies
   Awesome Sunsets
   Beauty of the Sea
   Seaside Beauty
   Trees and Flowers
   Trees and Shrubs
   Flowers in Bloom
   Rose Garden
   Beautiful Orchids
   Animal Life
   Australian Birds
   Birds on Water and Land
   Beautiful Creatures
   Friendship of Kitten and Parrot
   Other Animal Friendships
   Parks and Gardens
   Toowoomba Flower Festival
   Riyadh Parks and Gardens
   Spring Time
   New Life
   Spring Flowers
   Flower Close-Ups
   The Waterside
   Water Edge
   Water Mirrors
   Artistic Expression
   Art of Jindrich (Henry) Degen
   Three Dogs Knowing
   Beautiful Actions
   The Cab Ride
   Dancing in the Rain
   Angel in Disguise?
   Angels at Work
   The Crocheted Tablecloth
   Love in the Midst of Tragedy
   Children's Innocence
   Special Day
   ~ References ~
Free Downloads
   God and Creation
   God is Love
   Identity in Christ
   Love, Joy and Obedience
   Nature of Truth
   Thoughts about Life
   Learning and Growth
   Thoughts on Life and Death
   Abandonment to God
   Wishing You Well
Your Comments
Contact Us

Prayer 

 

../../images/Website-Forgiveness-Clasping%20Hands.jpg

         If we deal with our seemingly complex earthly issues with an answer “from above”, we can come to a place far beyond ourselves which is the source of real healing. Mother Teresa would advise: “When you spend one hour a day adoring your Lord and never do anything which you know is wrong, you will be fine!” We tend to respond to questions from below with answers from below. This usually results in more questions and more answers – and often more confusion. A direct, simple answer from above can cut through the complexity of the issue, get to the core of our being, and quickly provide the needed enlightenment. 

        The human tendency is to worry about the future. Jesus advises to set our hearts on God’s kingdom – transferring our worries about family, friends and tomorrow’s work responsibilities to the things of God: truth, life and light. If we do this, worrying turns into prayer as we enter into communion with the One who is present to us here and now and is ready to give us what we most need. Our feelings of powerlessness become transformed into a consciousness of being empowered by the Holy Spirit. We cannot prolong our lives by worrying, but we can move beyond the boundaries of our short lives and claim eternal life as God’s beloved children. We may still worry, as this is inherent in our nature and the world we live in. However, when we keep returning with our hearts and minds to God’s embracing love, we’ll be able to keep our eyes and ears open to the sights and sounds of the divine kingdom.  

        There are many ways how to set our hearts on God’s kingdom and no specific answer will fit everyone’s needs. One way to move from the mind to the heart is to slowly and very attentively repeat a prayer. It can be, for example, the Lord’s prayer, St. Francis’ prayer, 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter), or the 23rd Psalm. Done over a period of time whenever convenient during the day, this has a healing effect. Worries will continue to distract us, but returning to the prayer, listening to the words of it with our whole being, will make the worries less obsessive and the prayer more and more enjoyable. And as the prayer descends from the mind to the centre of our being its healing power will become apparent. 

        The reason that attentive repetition of a well-known prayer is helpful in setting our hearts on God’s kingdom is that the words have the power to transform our inner anxiety into inner peace. While the words of the prayer may be a stark contrast to daily reality, we become aware that what we see around us is not giving the true story of our identity. We are not a part of the world ruled by the powers of darkness, but rather belong to the Good Shepherd. In his presence, we’ll indeed have all our needs supplied, wanting nothing. The deeper the words of the prayer enter into the heart, the more we become part of God’s people and understand what it means to be in the world without being of it. 

        Another way to bring our minds and hearts on the kingdom and get close to our Lord is contemplation of a gospel passage. Read a story about Jesus and see and hear it with the eyes and ears of the heart. We’ll discover that over time, the life of Christ becomes more and more alive in us and starts to guide us in our daily activities. The many passages we will have been contemplating over time will give us new eyes and ears to perceive what is happening in the world. The gospel will prove the uselessness of our worries and refocus our attention onto the kingdom.  

        The daily contemplation of the gospel and the attentive repetition of a prayer can profoundly affect our inner life. The inner life is like a holy space that needs to be kept in good order and well decorated. Prayer can make our inner room a place where we can welcome those who search for God. Through prayer and contemplation, pictures will appear on the walls of our inner room which will inspire and guide those who enter our lives. 

        To live a spiritual life, we need others who are walking the same path for mutual support. We are responsible to choose a spiritual milieu where we can grow and mature. We can choose friends, books, churches, art, music, places to visit and people to spend time with that collectively provide a milieu where God’s mustard seed in us can grow into a strong tree. 


  

Reference: 
The above series of reflections is based on Henri Nouwen’s book, Here and Now, Living in the Spirit (London: Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, 1994), 75-82.

Photo: Intellimon, Ltd.

 

 

Australian readers may find good values at Fishpond which sells discounted books and delivers them postage-free.

http://www.fishpond.com.au/affiliate_show_banner.php?ref=2695&affiliate_banner_id=4

 

 


Home
About Us
Books and other websites
Truth
About God
The Experience of God
The God of Grace
Amazing Grace
God's Grace and Mercy - Another View
God's Grace in Small Things
Walking with God
God's Gifts and User Manual
God's Loving Care
The Dynamic God
Our Awesome and Incomprehensible God
God, Creation and Truth
The Common Aim of all Godly Religions
Living Buddha, Living Christ
About the Bible
Bible as the Word of God
Inspiration of the Scriptures
Another Reflection on the Bible
Truth Versus Facts
The Bible at your Fingertips
Letter from a Loving God
Book About Basic Bible Teachings
About the Universe
Nature and the Universe
Life's Origin
Our Unique Planet
Mind of the Universe
The Nature of Creation and Existence
Metaphysical View of the World
Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 1
Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 2
About Humanity
Nature of Humans
Of Creators and Creations
Truth and Perceptions
Our Present State and Divine Potential
Hidden Treasure Within Us
Precious Balls of Clay
Intertwining of Humanity and Divinity
Conversion
Finding One's Mission in Life
Living with Paradox
Scripture Bell
The Potential Good Within Evil
About Health and Happiness
Key Principles for Health and Happiness
Twelve Laws of Spirit
40 Spiritual Principles
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Wisdom from Rumi
Aspects of Spiritual Life
First Things First
Disciplined Living
Compassion
Listening
Experiencing Joy
Each Day is a Gift
Dealing with Suffering
Living in the Present
Other Aspects of Living in the Now
Choose Life
Dealing with Change
Acceptance
Prayer
Prayer -- Another Perspective
Serenity Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Prayer to Magnify God
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Pax -- the Peace of God's Presence
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Human Relationships
Children About Love
Inspiration from the Lives of a Godly Couple
Desiderata
References
Beauty
Skies and Seas
Glorious Sunrises
Beautiful Skies
Awesome Sunsets
Beauty of the Sea
Seaside Beauty
Trees and Flowers
Trees and Shrubs
Flowers in Bloom
Rose Garden
Beautiful Orchids
Animal Life
Australian Birds
Birds on Water and Land
Beautiful Creatures
Friendship of Kitten and Parrot
Other Animal Friendships
Parks and Gardens
Toowoomba Flower Festival
Riyadh Parks and Gardens
Spring Time
New Life
Spring Flowers
Flower Close-Ups
The Waterside
Water Edge
Water Mirrors
Artistic Expression
Art of Jindrich (Henry) Degen
Three Dogs Knowing
Beautiful Actions
The Cab Ride
Dancing in the Rain
Angel in Disguise?
Angels at Work
The Crocheted Tablecloth
Love in the Midst of Tragedy
Children's Innocence
Special Day
~ References ~
Free Downloads
God and Creation
God is Love
Identity in Christ
Love, Joy and Obedience
Nature of Truth
Thoughts about Life
Learning and Growth
Thoughts on Life and Death
Abandonment to God
Wishing You Well
Your Comments
Contact Us