Reflection
Prayer does not make us less aware of the circumstances of life. It makes us even more aware than we ever were before. Why? Because we now see the world as God sees the world. We hear the cry of the poor as God hears the cry of the poor. We are less wrapped up in ourselves, more aware of the needs of others, not more self-centered than ever…We begin to see ourselves more and more as a member of the human community rather than as a unique free-standing individual. We know now in a way we have never realized before that we are not a world unto ourselves.
Joan Chittister
Prayer
God leads the humble in what is right, and teaches them his way. m
Psalms 25:9
Action
Is your prayer making you more open to others? Do you see yourself as a member of the human community not of just one group? As a result, is your thinking more inclusive and compassionate? How is this reflected in your life?
Suggested Reading
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Phillipians 2:3-4
A prayer that does not lead you to practical action for your brother or sister— the poor, the sick, those in need of help, someone in difficulty — is a sterile and incomplete prayer.
Pope Francis
It is clear that he does not pray, who, far from uplifting himself to God, requires that God shall lower Himself to him, and who resorts to prayer not to stir the man in us to will what God wills, but only to persuade God to will what the man in us wills.
Thomas Aquinas
sald Chambers
Prayer is the beginning and the end, the source and the fruit, the core and the content, the basis and the goal of all peacemaking.
Henri Nouwen
The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.
Soren Kierkegaard
Every time we pray our horizon is altered. Our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don’t pray more.
Oswald Chambers
Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God.
Edwin Keith
It is not the body’s posture but the heart’s attitude that matters when we pray.
Billy Graham
Prayer doesn’t just change things – it changes us. If we are diligent in seeking God, slowly and surely we become better people.
Joyce Meyer
I do believe we’re all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other.
Harvey Fierstein
Intercessory prayer might be defined as loving our neighbour on our knees.
Charles Bent