Categories: theology-philosophy
Date: 02 March 2010 21:09:02
'How to pray for other people' and 'How to end the day with God' is where I'm at in The Book. Because there seemed to be so much to take in from what I was reading, I'd intentionally slowed down. Also cos I've had rather a grot couple of days on the depression front, I've really been struggling with prayer anyway. I've felt so detatched and distant from anything resembling a God, and found it even more difficult than usual to focus so I've not done very well with it! The praying for others idea seems a good one (well d'uh, course it is), but I always find it difficult to know 'who' to pray for cos the list seems endless. The Book has various suggestions including putting names on post its, only a few at a time, and putting them in a special place, or burning them as you offer the person in prayer. Or putting names on post its / small pieces of paper and putting them in a bowl and taking out a few names each evening and praying for them. Obviously, you also have then the question of whether to pray for individuals generally, or for specific things. So much to consider!! 'How to end the day with God' talks about 'reviewing' and 'reflecting' on your day - its highs and lows, and thinking about emotions. Again, something I sometimes find difficult because that would involve remembering what you'd done throughout the day! One of the reasons I particularly like this book is because just as I'm thinking something, it says it!!So we've reached the end of the day and the last five sections of this book have been suggesting all sorts of ways of praying 'day by day'. But maybe you're feeling this is all a bit too much like hard work, or a bit too much like travelling in anlien territory. You only wanted to think a bit more about spirituality, and you've ended up with loads of methods and techniques of praying.Yep, that's pretty much what I thought!! It does then say that there are no rules to prayer, so not to worry. And that God wants us to prayer wherever, however and whenever we can. I think I just need to remember that. Those times when on my motorbike when I'm so wanting to pray, but just can't focus on it or the words just aren't there, God knows that the intention is there, and I guess that must count for something.