the secret to life
"Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: 'My Lord, our King, You alone are God. Help me, who am alone and have no help but You, for I am taking my life in my hand.' " —Esther C:14-15
The Lord commands us to pray always and not lose heart (Lk 18:1). He calls us not only to pray but to have a life of prayer now and forever.
The Lord leads us to the life of praying always by giving us needs which can be met only by Him. As this becomes increasingly obvious, we ask, seek, and knock in prayer (see Mt 7:7), and He graciously answers our prayers.
However, sometimes the Lord does not answer our prayers as we requested. Then we ask ourselves the question: "Why pray, if it doesn't work?" At this point, we will either fall away from prayer or receive the breakthrough revelation that prayer is not primarily about "working" but about loving. We pray focusing not so much on our needs but on the Lord and our relationship with Him.
When we discover that prayer is primarily about loving communication with God, then we discover that prayer is not so much about petitioning as about listening.
Prayer that is loving and listening to our Lord is then more readily understood as lived prayer, a prayer life. To live a life of praying always is the only way to live once we know the meaning of prayer, which is also the meaning of life. Live to listen to and love God.
Prayer: Father, teach me to pray always in total surrender to Your love (see 1 Thes 5:17).
Promise: "Save us by Your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord." —Est C:25
Praise: Howard prays during his lunch hour.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 8, 2019
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