By Fr. Simon Herrmann, OSB
(This is an excerpt of the 5 Basics of Prayer—Letting God Lead the Way CareNote.
Click here to read the full CareNote.)
When it comes to prayer and having a relationship with God, it is easy for us to overcomplicate it. Yes, our prayer and relationship with God is a two-way relationship, but the more we can let God do the heavy lifting, the better. What follows are five ingredients in prayer that can help us foster a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ who brings our lives and prayer to God through the Holy Spirit – ultimately letting God love us and transform us, which He so greatly desires to do (Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 7:25).
Maybe you have been praying for several decades, or maybe you are new to prayer and your relationship with God. Maybe it has been a long time since you have prayed, or maybe you have not prayed at all. Regardless, this way of praying is not the only way to pray, but it may be an opportunity for long-time people of prayer and new-comers alike to hone in on the basics of prayer – which is letting God lead the way.
Let God Know You Love Him (Praise). We do not praise God for His sake, rather we praise God because this helps us to keep God as the center of our lives. When we begin our prayer with praise, we recognize the love and care God has for us and that he is the foundation of all we do.
Leading off prayer with praise could look something like praying, “God, you are the shepherd of my life…” or “God, giver of every good gift…” or “Most gracious and loving Father…”
Thank God (Gratitude). After letting God know our praise for his goodness, we can let God know our gratitude for the people, situations, and blessings in our lives. Maybe someone unexpectedly showed you kindness. Thank God for that. Did you have a great conversation with your spouse, with your children, with other family, or with your coworkers? Thank God for that. How about that sunrise or sunset that left you in awe? Thank God for that.
The more we grow in gratitude for the good things God is doing in our lives and the gifts he is fostering in us, the more we begin to recognize the subtle and not so subtle ways God moves in our lives.
Be Honest with God (Honesty). As we wrap up sharing with God our moments of gratitude, we can then share honestly with God about where we are: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Now is a good time to let God know that you are sorry for any sins you committed.
Be honest with God about how you are feeling. Are you sad, angry, or frustrated about a situation or a relationship? Bring it to God. God can handle it.
God is our Father whom we can cast our cares, worries, and anxieties upon because God so deeply cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Pray for Others (Intercede). Prayer is a gift that God gives to help us grow in relationship with him. A very important part of that gift is to bring others and their needs with us to prayer.
Perhaps God will nudge you to be the answer to the prayer: to be his love and care for a friend or family member or situation in your life.
The important thing is for us to bring our cares and concerns for others to God in prayer. He will never stop listening.
Rest with God (Quiet). Finally, and, this may the most difficult part of prayer for any of us to do, is to simply rest with God. We have let God know we love him, we have thanked God for the many ways he cares for us, we have been honest with God about our failures and our hopes, and we offered to him prayers for other people or situations. Now, we can quietly sit in God’s presence and let him pour out his love on us.
Lean into the peace of God’s gentle care and let God change your life.
Take Heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up well: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Let God lead the way!
(Photo by: Prazis Images/Adobe Stock Photo)