While
verbal prayer is a way for us to communicate the contents of
our heart and soul with the Holy One, recording
our life of prayer in a journal makes it possible for us to
delve more
deeply into the inner core of our being. Our prayer becomes
more real, more full, more tangible, more sure. Writing not
only provides a space for us to examine the needs that rest
close to the surface of our lives, it also pushes us to look
at what causes us dis-ease, and all that makes our heart throb.
We can pour it all out in words and images on the blank page,
and communicate with the Holy One in a palpable way. As we
empty ourselves, an open space is created within us for grace
and new possibility. When we least expect it, we glance around
and find that we are hearing the lovely whisper of God in return. 
1.
Write a prayer in thanksgiving for:
- Your
life
- Those
who share your life
- The
world of nature
- The
challenges that help you grow
- The
questions that keep you searching
- The
doubts that cause you to struggle with your faith
- The
joys that keep your heart buoyant
- The
hours of rest that refresh you for life
- The
silence that teaches you to be still
- The
fears that keep you from becoming complacent
- The
work that demands your best effort
- The
ideas that keep your creativity moving
- The
sorrows that help you have compassion for others
2. Engage
in a dialogue with the Holy One by writing out questions
that have concerned you. After you have prayed, record the insights
that have been given. 3.
Imagine that you are having a conversation with a young child
about prayer. What would you want most to communicate? What prayers
would you say? How would you teach that child to pray? How could
your experiences of prayer be helpful? What cautions, questions,
certainties would you offer? If you were to teach the child one
prayer that he or she could carry throughout the day, what prayer
would that be? 4.
Use the journal to reflect on your feelings about prayer. This might
include the times when prayer has been answered in your life,
and when it has not. When has prayer confirmed your faith? When
has it increased your doubt? What does praying according to God’s
will mean to you? How do you line up free will with the hopes of
heaven? When are you most moved to pray? What are the obstacles
that keep you from praying? 5. Pretend
you are Jim Carey in the movie Bruce Almighty. How would you
handle the prayers of all those who cried out if you
were doing God’s job for a day? What would be most important
to you about answering prayer? How would you help people to believe
when they were unwilling to listen? How would you help people move
to a deeper level of prayer when their initial prayers seemed too
superficial and self-serving?
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