The How of Prayer: Openness

There are virtually innumerable ways to pray.  Too often we imagine that prayer occurs only with head bowed, eyes closed, and solemn voice, but the possibilities are almost endless.  Eyes open or eyes closed.  Silently or speaking.  Sitting, standing, kneeling, lying down.

The key thing is not how we hold our hands or what words we say, though; it is much more important how we approach God spiritually.  The key is openness, openness with God and openness to God.  Without this basic openness, regardless of our posture, our prayers with God will be very limited.

Of course, this openness is an ideal, not a requirement.  Sometimes we will need to pray when we are not really open to God.  Instead we are filled with tension or anxiety or grief, but we still need to pray even in those times.  Sometimes we will even need to argue with God, and just like when you argue with someone else you love, it can be hard to listen to another person when you are so busy yelling at them.

In times like these, it is important to be as honest with God as possible, praying for the heavy emotions to subside so that we can be more open to God's love and assistance.  Learning to pray in such times can be a way of developing our prayer life and even deepening our relationship with God.

More troubling are the times when we create our own tension in our prayer life.  We approach God in a rush, recognizing the need to pray, but already thinking about the other things we also need to do.  Or we get in the habit of only telling God things when we pray -- giving God our to-do list of healings, comfortings, directings -- and never listen for God's voice.  In these ways, we intentionally close ourselves off from God, making our prayer life much less effective.  And these things are much easier to control, if we're willing to control them.

So, as you continue to grow in your prayer life, become more conscious of your need to open up to God.  It should be an emotional part of how you begin your time of prayer, the most important piece of your prayer routine, done as your bow your head, fold your hands, and close your eyes; or as you raise your head to the heavens and open your eyes; or as you get down on your knees and turn your palms face up; or... or... or....

Today's Prayer Prompt: Before you pray today, think about how you are approaching God.  Are you stressed out?  Are you angry?  Are you willing to listen?  Are you in a hurry?  Become more aware of how you are approaching God.  And then begin your prayer by asking God to help you become more open to Him.