To Pray - A Christian Battle - Part 1

Please offer a minute of silent prayer for the souls of our brothers and sisters who perished in the recent earthquake and tsunami and the deteriorating nuclear situation in Japan and from those killed in the on-going Middle East and African conflicts.

May the Lord give comfort to their families and relatives and save them from further suffering. May the Lord touch a lot of people’s heart to help in anyway they can – prayer offering which is paramount.

It is the season of Lent and Lent has always been about prayer and conversion. It is the time to reflect and “re-arrange” our directions in life, back-tracking from the ways where we first made the detour away from God’s will and making resolute decision to follow the right path no matter how difficult and narrow it may be. It is the time to keep a silent and listening heart in order for us to recognize well God’s voice who is our only Good Shepherd who calls us by name towards Him.

Prayer is the basic life of a Christian and it is through prayer that we are able to establish a constant union with God which, when practiced in spiritual maturity, will eventually lead us to peace and united in love with God, with our neighbors and with ourselves.

But just like most Christians, one can experience the difficulties of prayer.

And so, the battle is set, a spiritual battle that is.

In the Cathechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2726-2728), it is mentioned that the main objections to prayer are:

1. Erroneous Notions of Prayer

- It is a simple psychological activity.

- It is an effort of concentration to reach a mental void.

- It is a ritual of words and postures.

- It is an occupation that is incompatible with other things to be done.

2. Various current of thoughts

- Prayer is only true if it can be verified by reason and science.

- Production and profit is primary, thus prayer, being “unproductive” is useless.

- Sensuality and comfort are the criteria of the true , the good and the beautiful.

- Prayer is a flight away from the world instead of taking action.

3. Experiences of failure in prayer

- Discouragement during times of spiritual dryness

- Sadness that we have not given all to the Lord

- Disappointment over not being hear according to our own will

- Wounded pride

- Resistance to the idea that prayer is a free and unmerited gift.

The question in a any Christian’s mind who is struggling to pray has always been – What good does it do to pray?

But in order to win the battle to pray, we must first battle to gain humility, trust and perseverance.

God bless.

to be continued........First Armor : Humility