Hearing God (Part III)

The first part of this mini series on hearing God was on the necessity of daily prayer, the second part on recollection, and this third part is on how to pray.

Disclaimer: I am not writing this from a place of "teaching authority", I am writing this simply as a daughter of the Church and a student of her teachings, from experience and learning from masters of the spiritual life far more advanced than I am. I am simply passing on of the riches of what has already been said before me.

So now to the topic. How to pray. It is one thing to talk about the necessity of prayer, it is another to actually begin praying, to know how to pray.

The first thing to know is that prayer is simple.

Prayer is, as Saint Teresa of Avila would describe it, "taking time frequently to be with the One who we know loves us". Or, as Saint Therese of Lisiuex would say, "prayer is a burst from my heart, it is a simple glance thrown toward heaven, a cry of thanksgiving and love in times of trial as well as in times of joy."

Prayer is like a gaze. It is resting in the gaze of the One who loves you, and returning that gaze of love. It is like a lover who is resting in the arms of their beloved. It is like a child sleeping in the arms of its father. It is simple, and it is about being with. There in that quiet, in that resting, we begin to detect the silent whispers of God within us, the gentle promptings of His Spirit one way or another, the quiet words of knowledge that come to our hearts and minds bringing deep peace and consolation, words of endearment, encouragement, or counsel.

When we focus too much on our own questions, reasoning our way through our entire time in prayer, focusing so much on vocal and mental prayers or devotions, we can stifle that whisper of God. To hear the voice of God requires simplicity, humility, and silence... listening. We must "de-clutter" our hearts and minds in prayer, allow ourselves to become simple and practice resting in the quiet of God's presence within or before us.

All of this being said, sometimes that rest and that quiet does not come readily, and it is a fruit of some active effort. Sometimes we have to recollect (call to mind the previous reflection) our senses, our minds, our hearts and help bring them to that place, assisted by the Holy Spirit. In the next reflection we will talk more about active prayer, scripture, and hearing God.