HAVE A PRAYING LIFE
Some people want to avoid this subject. It is too personal. It can take us into the unknown. But let us deal with the issue of our existence in earth. The truth be told:
WE ARE LONELY !!
That is why we have families, friends, colleagues, clubs, etc and we play games and watch television and yell our lungs out at a football game or make ourselves heard at a party or try to be a great guy. Yes, we need recognition as a fuel to drive us forward, we need to feel good and feel wanted in life. When we are down for whatever the reason, when we feel dejected, afraid, uncertain, lonely or simply to need someone to talk to, we look for someone we can trust, a friend or a close family member.
Today, we have all our times used up. There are only 24 hours in a day, 365 days in a year. Unlike our paychecks that tend to grow over the years, our time stays the same, the same as the day we were born. Have you not wished that there is more time? But if the day is now made up of 30 hours would it make your life any better? Chances are you will find things to do to fill it up and ask for yet more time. Since we are all busy, we really don't have much time to spare for others. Which is why we have a new term - QUALITY TIME. Time set aside specially for that special someone like your son or spouse.
Communication is a big problem today. Although many now have mobile phones and the cost of making calls is getting lower, our problem is that we often fail to hear the real issues. We also want to dominate in conversations. What we really need is QUALITY COMMUNICATION as well.
Unfortunately, when people don't hear each other, problems arise. Also we tend to mistrust people as our relationships at home and outside get more and more complex. Is it therefore surprising that people start talking to themselves or to some invisible being?
This brings us to the subject of praying, the practice of speaking to someone you know is there to hear you but is invisible. Whether you are a christian or not, chances are you have prayed before. Praying presumes that you trust the 'prayee', the 'person' you pray to. That the prayee is there to hear you and help you. When you pray you consciously seek consolation, affirmation and solution to the questions you asked. And you hope that things will turn out better. Engaging in prayer, whatever the form and to whomever you pray to, means that you are acknowledging a higher life form, a spiritual life form that is invisible.
Whatever our spiritual inclinations, we must agree that praying is good for us, and therefore we must pray regularly and make it a part of our daily lifestyle. Christians pray to a known God, known because he has an identity for he said that we bear his characteristics (image). Like a son who resembles his dad in build, appearance and even in temperament and likes/dislikes, so we human also resemble our creator. Qualities like love, anger, impatience, compassion, sacrifice, jealousy, foregiveness, etc are also qualities found in God. When we pray to God we understand him and therefore interacts well. The more we pray the closer we get to him. The closer we get the more we understand him. The more we understand him, the more we want to do what he likes so that we can receive his love and approval. Admit it, although we may be grown up, deep inside we need to feel approved and loved.
A healthy and intimate prayer life rejuvenates the soul. After a prayer, a person cannot help but feels better and more confident of life ahead. Even if the problem persist, the general feeling is that we have let go and leave it to the 'prayee' to solve. I therefore urge you, if you are not in a habit of praying, to pray for help in whatever circumstances. But praying involves other areas besides seeking help. For christians, the first element of prayer is ADORATION (act of worshipping God), followed by CONFESSION (telling God our wrong-doings are seeking his foregiveness)and SUPPLICATION (asking for the things we need as well as for others). A christian prayer is essentially a conversation with God in spirit. Praying is not necessarily only bringing to God your problems. God wants to hear your happy news as well so pray even when things are going well in your life! The more you pray, the more you realize that life is not just material but in fact highly spiritual. When we die, we are better prepared to leave this world if we have a consistent prayer life. Let me share with you the Lord's Prayer which I hope you will analyse (if you are a non-christian) and discover the truth within:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and foregive us our sins as we foregive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Be balanced in your life. Live well but don't forget to pray to God for you will surely come face to face with him one day.
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