Desire for Prayer (Part II)

I have many times entered into the thought of finding the actual reasons for 'Prayer', I kept coming to a state where I've found not much reason for prayer maybe because of myself being someone that doesn't like being forced into doing something. In this post, I'll be sharing about my experience of prayer and what it does for me.

So what really is prayer for you? I think that our own personal definition of prayer is just so important and hopefully our definition has some similarities with Catholic Church. The worst thing would be for us to heading in separate direction from Catholic Church and then claiming that we know God. For a sure fact, we know that it was Jesus himself who decided to build Church and hence, it is so essential to be in line with the Church and her teachings.

For me, my definition is prayer is speaking to God and being in God’s presence. And as years have passed, I’ve come to realize how difficult it can be to pray faithful without truly knowing the true person of God! But as I drew closer to God, I’ve come to really enjoy prayer, the Eucharist, silent time and set prayers like the divine office & other kinds of prayers.

But what prayer truly does for me, is making me more humble and graceful. From what I perceived prayer as initially, you could say that God has really brought revelation to me for me to understand prayer. For this I praise God specially! And just being in the presence of God without speaking at all is so rewarding as it is. Everyday, as I pray in the morning, I really find it so important for me as I start as it starts my day with being filled with the grace & joy of the Lord! And I guess in many ways, its my source of joy in the Lord!

As I was think about this post, I think and feel that we as youths of the Church need to pray like how Jesus prayed where he’d take time off from all ministry to go up to the mountain to sit and pray. But of course our mountain can be in the adoration room or our own rooms or even anywhere away from all distractions. As I was just reflecting on the modern day youths who have chosen to say ‘Yes’ to Jesus, I came to the conclusion, that we can make so much time to ministry work but sometimes we miss out on the true crucial element of spending time with God in prayer.

And I have always been a person not liking prayer much but really, God has taught me what a gift prayer really is! It really is an avenue to receive grace and humility! And finally, prayer is where we will really be able to seek to do the true will of our Father in Heaven.

So this is my prayer for all of us especially the youths & young adults serving in Church. I pray that we youths will be a praying & discerning people filling the conviction & vibrancy of the Holy Spirit. I especially pray for all those who find prayer such a burden and a chore, I pray that they may experience God tangibly in their daily lives and find prayer a grace! Amen!