“Life outlined with prayer is less likely to unravel.” Several years ago my sister cross stitched this expression, framed it, and blessed my birthday with it. It still hangs above my breakfast table as a visual reminder to keep me open to communication with God. A communication that is two-way. Prayer involves talking to God about moments of joy and moments of heartache; but, just as importantly, it involves listening to God.
“Be still and know that I am the Lord, “ the psalmist urges his readers to live in God’s presence, to listen to the holy whispers God breathes into our being. Knowing God and spending some quiet time in listening gives me a chance to have rewoven the unraveled pieces of my life.
I remember how delicious it was to hold whispered conversations with a best friend as I was growing up. There was the feeling that we could meet any challenge with confidence because we were together. This power of affirmation is multiplied when I live in an awareness of God’s presence; when I whisper my thanks to God, my need for help.
The pressures of aging parents, rebellious children, self-doubt—of living in a hectic culture—snatch at the threads of my sanity. Prayer helps me to keep the threads of my life from unraveling. Does prayer give you affirmation, forgiveness, peace?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Holy Whispers
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4 comments:
It's so hard be quiet and listen! Even if my surroundings are quiet, it's hard to quiet my brain. I think I miss a lot of closeness to God because I can't get quiet. How do other people do it? Do any of you have the same problem? Can anyone help me find a way to focus and center myself and be quiet?
Finding a quiet place in life is difficult, if not impossible. Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with sound...lots and lots of sound. Most of it is noisy sound pitching some product or service we don't need.
Places of worship ought to be places of retreat for a few moments each week for us to be still and listen to the small voice that gets muted by the commercial trash competing for our attention.
The wonder of God's whispers is that they are internal. My life in retail sales at holiday time involves several musical trees, animated musical characters, crying babies, distracted parents and customers cell phones. God whispers throughout it all sometimes leaving his touch in a baby's smile or an old one's gentle thanks. Most often he just reminds me that his peace is the calm in the center of my life no matter where I am or what is going on around me.
I find myself with "holy whispers" alot - sometimes just a simple "thank you Lord for a parking space!". When things are hectic, I find myself focusing on God and I can began to feel some calmness and peace. Many times I just ask and forget to listen. I need to be more patient and wait and listen. Prayer is important to me but at times I find myself repeating myself. Do I need to remind God? No, but it makes me feel better. Prayer is still a mystery to me but one that does provide a direct way to communicate with God.
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