January 19, 2020, 1 Kings 8:22-30, 52-53 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

V.
The other day we noticed some of what Solomon mentioned in his prayer and I asked how alike or unlike your prayers this was.

Again, we wouldn’t expect his prayer and ours to be the same in all respects but this can give us occasion to think about how we pray.

VI.
I suspect you may have heard or read that our prayers can (or should) follow the pattern, ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. I have no doubt this is a good pattern with which to consider our prayers.

I have also seen some suggest our praying follow the pattern, PRAY – Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield.

Recently I have seen the pattern PRAY, taken to suggest – Pause, Rejoice, Reflect, Ask, Yield. I like that. I think all of us need to take some time to both “Pause,” and “Reflect” in our prayers. Silence can be a great addition.

Not all prayers start like these patterns or follow these patterns and all praying should not be expected to. But these suggestions can help us move beyond our praying being not more than a wish list or shopping list.

VII.
Go back to Solomon’s prayer and see what of the elements mentioned above you find.

Now, take some time and think back over your prayers today, yesterday, maybe for a few days and notice which of the above elements were offered in your praying. What was most prominent? What might have been lacking?

What is your prayer today?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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