As part of my prayer practice at the moment, I'm reading through James Martin's book, "Learning to Pray". I'm trying out some of his suggestions and then reflecting on them in my journal. The book is really accessible and he has a wonderfully fresh perspective. He is writing for both Christians and for people who are still making their mind up about God :)
Martin says that the first reason for praying is because God wants to be in relationship with us and we can know that this is true because we want to pray. How does the author know we want to pray? Because we are reading his book, he says :) God has put a desire in each of us to know him and, although we don't always find prayer easy, there is a longing for God that will not go away. As St Augustine put it so famously, "O God you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you."
How are you responding to the restlessness in your heart? What is God teaching you about prayer at the moment?
Martin says that the first reason for praying is because God wants to be in relationship with us and we can know that this is true because we want to pray. How does the author know we want to pray? Because we are reading his book, he says :) God has put a desire in each of us to know him and, although we don't always find prayer easy, there is a longing for God that will not go away. As St Augustine put it so famously, "O God you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you."
How are you responding to the restlessness in your heart? What is God teaching you about prayer at the moment?