In my last post, I described how my own vision shifted to view prayer as a house where I encounter the Trinity. It’s a place of rich variety and I have an invitation to explore. I am wanted and welcome here. So are you.

Would you like to explore a life of prayer? 

In this dwelling, prayer is unceasing. You cannot walk out of prayer. You cannot “fly” a paper prayer towards Jesus and hope he catches yours first. He is already there with you. Prayer is far more than making a request and waiting for an answer. And prayer doesn’t depend on your performance. Prayer is life with God. Prayer is coming home to God. Prayer is journeying deeper and deeper and into life with Trinity. 

Have you ever noticed how the people who made their home with Jesus during his ministry years were also always on a journey?

I have much more to explore. But I will offer a small taste of what I have found in the rooms of the house. One room is lectio divina, the practice of sacred listening to Scripture. It’s the place in the house where the Spirit meets you as you listen, read slowly, savor, and pray a short passage of Scripture. Time with God begins with listening. Then, you offer a response. In this room, you find yourself in the passage and discover God’s Word of life includes your life. 

In another room, I find the daily Examen. This is the place where you and God meet in friendship and think back through your day. Together, you notice the places that fill you with gratitude and warmth. Together, you also notice the places where you feel regret. This prayer feels like sitting down with God at the kitchen table and pouring your day through a sieve. You both look at what memories you find in the netting. It is a safe place, and you have the chance to say both thank you and I’m sorry and ask for help. God accepts that you aren’t perfect. This is a table of love.

Can I accept that I’m not perfect? Will I let the Spirit show me what I don’t want to see?

The next room is silent and full of morning light. I don’t say anything at all. It’s the room of solitude. The silence thrums with life. The Trinity joins me, and I’m filled with joy, or faith, or love, or the courage to be merciful. We sit together. I know I am loved.  

When did you last sit in silence with the Trinity? Would you like to? 

There is so much more to prayer than our words and habits lead us to believe. I hope that you will think about the ways that prayer and life with God overlap in your life. All of these small overlaps I’ve mentioned can also be thought of as the foundation of some of what contemplatives call spiritual disciplines (or practices) that I’ll explore in future posts.

Which of these rooms would you like to explore?