Fundamentals of Prayer
“You say that you don't know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and once you have said, 'Lord, I don't know how to pray!' rest assured that you have begun to do so.” (The Way, 90). St. Jose Maria Escriva's expression is an inspiration for us to pray without any preparations or formation. It just simply says "be yourself during prayer." When we say about prayer, we have our different ideas and concept of it. In the fundamentals of prayer, we have to consider that prayer is a dialogue, relationship, and submission.
Prayer is a dialogue. It is a communication between God and man. Fr. Dave Concepcion always says that prayer is not a self-centered monologue but a God-centered dialogue. What is important in prayer is listening part rather than speaking. After all, who is more important, we or God? Prayer as dialogue requires the virtue of humility. We make God the center of our prayer, not us. As St. Alphonsus Ligouri says, “If you humble yourself, God himself comes, of his own accord, to embrace you; but, if you exalt yourself, and boast of your wisdom and your actions, he withdraws from you, and abandons you to your nothingness.”
Prayer is a relationship. It is a relationship with a living God who loves us, who desires to be with us, and who is obsessed with us. We are invited to be receptive to his initiative and to respond to the movements that occur throughout life. You pray as if you are speaking to a person who is listening and understands your plea. Prayer as all of the living-involves opening up to the Lord in all that touches us, our daily joys and pains. Prayer as a relationship requires the virtue of perseverance. Knowing one person within the relationship has to be continuous so that you may prolong your relationship.
Prayer is a submission. Submitting our will to God’s not otherwise. Opening one’s heart to God is having intimacy with Him. We let God handle our prayer by looking over the interior movements we had within our hearts. This gives us hope for the prayer that we are offering to God. Prayer as a submission requires confidence. St. Thomas tells us that the efficacy of our prayers in obtaining graces from God, does not depend on our merits, but on divine mercy. Do not worry if you feel that you are unworthy to grant such prayers you are asking. God is pleased with a person who lovingly places their trust in Him.
In conclusion, prayer is a moment of grace. This is a moment when God is beholding us as His children. Let us pray to him from the silence of our hearts. Be yourself, be true to yourself, you are acceptable to God.
