Do you have a special place where you pray? Some people say they pray in the car, chatting with Jesus in the passenger seat. Some people pray as they walk in nature. Some pray in churches (imagine!). Many people pray on the run, going from here to there, or as need or occasion arises.
All of these are good and valid forms of prayer in terms of communicating with God. If we truly want to hear what God has to say to us, though, we will also incorporate the kind of prayer that builds up our relationship with God. The gospels show us that Jesus often went apart to pray, and spent time in prayer. His disciples seem to have observed this pattern and were intrigued.
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’
No relationship can grow without both parties devoting time to conversation. When we’ve made a new friend, or become enamored of someone, we find ourselves naturally wanting to communicate. That impulse can weaken as familiarity grows, so we need to be proactive and intentional about it. If we want to strengthen our connection with the God who made the universe, who knows and loves us more than we can imagine, we will need to show up for the conversation God is always ready to have with us. Yes, it requires more from us, because, unlike God, our time is finite and we can only effectively focus on one person at a time.
Designating a time and especially a place for quiet, contemplative prayer is the key for many who want to deepen their connection with the divine. What time of day are you least likely to be distracted? Is there a place in your home, a chair, a window, where you can truly relax and go into “spirit-mode?” What you do when you get there can vary – some people read and chew on a passage of Scripture, or read the Daily Office. You might read Water Daily and find your own way into Sunday’s gospel reading.
Leave some time to allow your spirit to settle deeply and invite God to speak in that silence. Perhaps your imagination will produce a scene in which you and Jesus can chat. I don’t know what it will look like for you. I only know that God desires connection with God’s beloveds, and connection requires communication, and communication with God will transform our whole day – and life.
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