Introduction
to Prayer
In
its simplest definition prayer is a conversation between
the one who is praying and the one to whom
those prayers is directed.
Prayer can take many forms, and encompass the whole
range of poetic and literary styles. It can be a cry
for help or a cry of joy. It can be a single word
or a symphony of prose.
Pope John Paul II is quoted as follows on the difficulty
of praying. "How to pray? This is a simple matter.
I would say: Pray any way you like, so long as you
do pray."
Prayers can be individual or corporate, liturgical
or extemporary. They can be short or long, simple
or complex in language. In fact words are not always
necessary, for we have the promise that when words
fail us the Spirit will intercede for us with the
most intimate prayers of our heart.
Living for some years in Wales and being aware of
the interest and influence of the early Celtic Church
within this land, it is difficult not to be influenced
by the vision and prayer life of the early Christian
saints.
To the Celtic Church their God was a personal and
loving God totally involved in the whole of the Created
world, which He had breathed into existence.
The Celts knew that their God was involved totally
in all of His Creation. They held firm to a belief
in the incarnation and the knowledge that Jesus Christ
lived, died and rose again from death to show the
great Love of God for His Creation, and indeed for
all of us, His creatures.
Michael Mitton
in his excellent book 'Restoring the Woven Cord' talks
of the Celts' love of wholeness, and how they wove together
the various strands of their faith into a most effective
cord for ministry and mission. Mitton suggests that
over the centuries the Church has picked and chosen
from these strands, ignoring, losing and then re-discovering
lost strands as if they were the most important strand
of all.
As a result,
the original Cord and the effectiveness of the Church
in its mission has become weaker. The strands of the
Celtic cord which Mitton emphasises are holiness, a
love of the Bible, the importance of children, community,
creation, creativity, death, evangelism, healing and
miracles, the Ministry of Women, prayer, prophesy, spiritual
warfare and the Wild Goose (the Holy Spirit)
It is my opinion
that the early Church in this land was in some ways
much closer to the heart of God than our current denominational
jumble sale. We can pick and choose as we would sweets
in a market stall - there's something for everyone.
But the strength
of the Church is surely in a weaving together of all
the strands of our Christian faith - One Church, One
Faith, One Lord.
I started
this introduction by stating that at its simplest prayer
is a conversation, and conversations are rarely one-sided.
Within our time of prayer needs to be the silence that
enables God to contribute.
David Adam
says of silence 'It is not an empty time but a God-filled
time.' 'Let the words of my mouth and the meditation
of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my
strength and my Redeemer'
See also:
The components of prayer
Worship in the early Church
Prayer in the early Church
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