What is What is Prayer?Prayer?January GIFT 2011January GIFT 2011

Prayer is…Prayer is… Converse with GodConverse with God

The intercourse of the soul with The intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct meditation, but in direct

address address to him. to him.

May be oral or mental, May be oral or mental, occasional occasional or constant, or constant, ejaculatory or ejaculatory or formal.formal.

Things that can Things that can affect your prayer affect your prayer

life…life… temperament and personalitytemperament and personality

age and life situationage and life situation

motivation and desiremotivation and desire

time of day / internal body time of day / internal body clockclock

prayer spaceprayer space

Prayer becomes Prayer becomes difficult when…difficult when…

you’re not in the habit of prayingyou’re not in the habit of praying

you still pray as a child becauseyou still pray as a child because

you haven’t developed a you haven’t developed a maturemature

faithfaith

prayer has become routineprayer has become routine

Prayer becomes Prayer becomes difficult when…difficult when…

you expect too much from your you expect too much from your prayer (ex. good feelings or prayer (ex. good feelings or

immediate answersimmediate answers

you think it is a waste of time you think it is a waste of time because you don’t really because you don’t really understand what prayer isunderstand what prayer is

Obstacles to Obstacles to PrayerPrayer

IInability to quiet oneself / nability to quiet oneself / calm downcalm down

don’t know where to startdon’t know where to start

distractions (internal and/or distractions (internal and/or external)external)

Obstacles to Obstacles to PrayerPrayer

Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns

(too hot/cold/confortable)(too hot/cold/confortable)

Not feeling well (sickness, Not feeling well (sickness, exhaustion, emotionally exhaustion, emotionally upset, upset, over-excited)over-excited)

How God answers How God answers prayer…prayer…

““There are not two kinds of There are not two kinds of answers to prayer, but three. answers to prayer, but three. One is ‘Yes.’ Another is ‘No.’ One is ‘Yes.’ Another is ‘No.’ The third is ‘Wait.’”The third is ‘Wait.’”

Archbishop Fulton Archbishop Fulton SheenSheen

Ways God answers Ways God answers prayer…prayer…

through the works of through the works of another personanother person

through words of advice, through words of advice, comfort or guidance comfort or guidance

Ways God answers Ways God answers prayer…prayer…

through a change in through a change in attitudeattitude

through a through a s l o w s l o w process process (may appear to (may appear to be be unanswered at first)unanswered at first)

Sometimes God says Sometimes God says “NO” “NO” because He knows because He knows what’s what’s best for usbest for us

Sometimes God answers Sometimes God answers us us in unexpected waysin unexpected ways

Ways God answers Ways God answers prayer…prayer…

““Lord, teach us to Lord, teach us to pray…pray…

ACTSACTS AdorationAdoration ContritionContrition ThanksgivingThanksgiving SupplicationSupplication

““Lord, teach us to Lord, teach us to pray…pray…

Our FatherOur Father Matthew 6:9-13 & Matthew 6:9-13 &

Luke 11:2-4Luke 11:2-4 Both the “perfect” prayer Both the “perfect” prayer and outline for all prayerand outline for all prayer

““Lord, teach us to Lord, teach us to pray…pray…

Our Father, who art in Our Father, who art in heaven,heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come,Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.as it is in heaven.

““Lord, teach us to Lord, teach us to pray…pray…

Give us this day our daily bread,Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses as And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass we forgive those who trespass against us.against us.

And lead us not into temptation And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.but deliver us from evil.

““Lord, teach us to Lord, teach us to pray…pray…

For the kingdom, the For the kingdom, the power, power,

And the glory are yours And the glory are yours

Now and forever. Amen.Now and forever. Amen.

The rest of the The rest of the evening…evening…

Prayer stationsPrayer stations Centering PrayerCentering Prayer Praying with the Praying with the PsalmsPsalms