We are now halfway through the year 2025 and midway through September. A question that often comes to my mind is, “As we go through time, are we growing through time?” Going through time and growing through time are two different things. One of the ways to grow in Christian discipleship is prayer. Disciplineship is connected with discipleship.
Prayer is a discipline. I see prayer as a profound act and process of faith and spiritual connection. It can take verbal and non-verbal forms, serving as a means to reach out to God and reveal our true selves. It calls for openness and surrender, inviting us to let go of fixed mindsets, to follow God’s guidance, and to undergo transformation and renewal. We draw nearer to God through prayer and grow in our faith and spiritual journey.
Prayer does not change God, but prayer changes us. The purpose of prayer is to align with God, be rooted in faith and spirituality, foster integrity, be humble and grounded, and remain open to learn. When we pray, we only hear our voice as we bring our requests, concerns, and will to God. Our voice should be made known to God because God has asked us to pray continually without ceasing. But the problem comes when our voice dominates God’s voice. We sometimes recite our prayers so loudly that we don’t hear what God is asking us to do. At times, our prayers can become loud and self-centered.
Daily, I find solace in prayer, reaching out to God almost five times a day, sharing my needs and aspirations. I consider myself blessed with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, yet I am acutely aware of the vastness of God’s understanding. We often say we comprehend God, but God’s essence transcends our human grasp. Only God can be God; we, as God’s creation, should pray and be patient.
Prayer doesn’t have to be words; even a walk in the park can be an act of prayer and worship. You can engage with the beauty of the trees, plants, birds, and all creation around you. The grammar of Christian faith is prayer. Contemplation is another form of prayer that does not need words but can be practiced in silence to hear God’s voice resting in God’s presence beyond words. Writing poems or journals can be an act of prayer as an offering to God. Singing and listening to music are ways of worship, such as singing the Lord’s Prayer or a Psalm.
Prayer is a process; it’s not a spell like the abracadabra you chant, but a covenant life, like Abraham’s grant. It is not a magical incantation or a formula for guaranteed results. It highlights that prayer is more about a relationship with a higher power and a sincere expression of one’s heart and beliefs, rather than a way to manipulate outcomes. It is a journey of faith, where we learn to embrace uncertainty and find peace in the knowledge that God’s providence is always at work, guiding us toward a purpose far greater than we can imagine.
So, my friends, I encourage you to pray in any form that speaks to you, helps you connect with God, and deepens your faith and spirituality. May the prayers transform you.
God bless you, and see you in church.
Romy