This isn’t meant to stir any controversy just to open the soul to a deeper, more intimate prayer life. Reading St. Faustina’s discussion with Jesus made me think about my prayer life.
“Soul: My Lord and Master, I desire to converse with You. Jesus: Speak, My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you desire to say? Soul: Your response. Jesus: Your words please Me, and your thanksgiving opens up new treasures of graces. But, My child, we should talk in more detail about the things that lie in your heart. Let us talk confidentially and frankly, as two hearts that love one another do”
Without doubt, we know the perfect prayer was given us by Jesus Himself. When He gave the Our Father, Jesus defined prayer perfection. Even our personal prayer can and should be modeled from the Our Father. Focus upon God the Father first and primarily. Give the Father God thanks and praise in recognition for Whom He is. Giving our Will and desires over to the Father’s Divine Will then comes before anything we should ask.
“Pray then in this way: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13
Given this perfect model, I find myself contemplating my own life of prayer. Do I pray enough? Am I God centered and outward focused or selfish? Am I a prayer robot or intimate with God as talking to a friend or dad?
For me, after the Our Father, for reasons noted earlier, the greatest and most personal prayer is the Chaplet (and Novena) of Divine Mercy. If you know me or have read my story in “I Knew His Voice”, you know this prayer was given to me personally by Jesus in the depths of need. At a time when in fatigue and despair I couldn’t pray, Jesus gave me peace in the Chaplet. Through the Chaplet and St. Faustina, I found everything I need in God. Through the Chaplet and Divine Mercy, I continue to grow closer to Jesus in trust.
When my soul trembles to pray, whether due to overwhelming need or uncertainty, I fall back to two simple prayers, the Our Father and “O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You” (Divine Mercy in My Soul # 84). I say these prayers because they are simple and clean, then, leave it at that. I push myself not to ask for anything or express my worries and fears. I focus my soul to simply trust in Jesus. That exercise actually gives me much peace.
Of course, our Lady offers us a magnificent prayer in the Holy Rosary. The Rosary gives us a chance to focus upon Jesus through our Mother’s eyes.
So, what is the ‘right’ way to pray? Beside maybe the ‘Our Father’, the perfect way to pray varies for each soul. The Rosary, Divine Mercy, Breviary and more. Seek God to have Him help define your prayer life.
But, for sure, the best prayer is the one that is active and personal. One on One and intimate in nature. Pure as one friend to another and much, much more. Talk to Jesus as if He were seated next to you (He is) and to the Father as daddy. Pray!