When undertaking a prayer practice, there is a natural human tendency to want to set timelines and goals. There is some value to this sort of self-imposed structure, as it can help us cultivate discipline and positive habits in our prayer lives. Nevertheless, we must always remember that prayer is ultimately relationship. As such, trying to predetermine a point of “arrival” that will allow us to proclaim “success” in our prayer is, at best, a dicey proposition. As we persevere in prayer, there will undoubtedly be fruits and signals of our deepening relationship with God, but it is entirely likely that those signals and fruits will not be exactly the ones we were seeking. Otherwise, we might be so vain as to imagine that the power in a relationship with the Divine comes from us, rather than from God. We also must never deceive ourselves into thinking that there is a finish line to be reached in prayer, after which no more growth and commitment will be required. Any married couple will tell you that even the longest and most dedicated marriage requires real work to keep it thriving. This is no less true in our relationship with God. Moreover, relationship, by its nature, does not develop according to plan, but is rather forged in the messy dynamics of give and take, three steps forward and two steps back, and gradual self-disclosure. We must learn to be patient in prayer, as God is with us.
Contact us at 314-578-0062 or [email protected]!