Personal Prayer
Relationships are essential to our growth and development as a human person. Time spent together, conversation and self-revelation are all elements of a healthy relationship. They are also the elements of personal prayer that are part of an on going relationship with God. Most people would agree with this. Then the questions arise: "What is prayer?" "How do I pray?"
Simply stated personal prayer is a conversation with God. It can take place on the beach where I am caught up in the sound of the waves and beauty of the sun on the water, or when I see a leaf fall, or the first snowflake or the crocus in early spring. I see these wonders; I am filled with awe; I express this to my God sometimes with words, sometimes in silence. Maybe I find myself facing the loss of someone I love, or my own fragility, and deep in my soul the question, "Why" surfaces. In each of these situations I am in conversation with God: I am praying. There are times when I walk down the street and I see or hear something and I am aware of God and I say nothing but I do know that God is with me.
These are the times of prayer. As I mature and develop spiritually, I realize that this is not enough. I need to set time aside, to be intentional about my prayer and my relationship with God. I set a regular time for prayer, a time when I won't be interrupted. Sometimes I light a candle, play music, pray a familiar or favorite prayer, read scripture or a spiritual book. Then I take time in the quiet, often I journal at the end of my time with God. It is amazing how when I take time for personal prayer, I seem to be better able to face all of the events of the day. It is so much easier when I am not alone.
Personal prayer is a conscious decision that I make to get to know God and let God into my everyday life.
