We need to learn to pray, not just say prayers.
The ‘Our Father’, ‘Hail Mary”, “Memorare”, “The Rosary” and the “Chaplet of Divine Mercy” or any pray or devotion is just words if all we do is say them. In order to be truly effective, prayer must be prayed.
What’s the difference between saying our prayers and praying?
When we say the prayers, only words are involved. When we pray, the heart is invoked. It is much more difficult to pray that I just say prayers.
Oh, I am often guilty of just saying prayers. Words being said but my heart is nowhere near God’s. That’s the image for saying prayers versus praying.
When the heart is engaged with the Lord, I am really listening to Him and I’m pouring out what’s going on in my life.
If I don’t regularly, daily, persistently and intentionally strive to listen to God about everything in my life, then, it’s no wonder that when I need Him, when I have a big decision and go to Him, I have a hard time hearing Him.
Simply said, I have a hard to hearing Him because I am not accustomed to His voice.
A few months back in our travels, we visited a church and I met a woman who asked how to hear God’s voice and how to know it’s His voice when you do hear Him. The answer is both simple and difficult. First, one must shut out all distractions. How can you hear God if the noises of life are loud? Then, you have to pray and listen. Like I said above, you must pray to God not simply say your prayers. You have to listen hard, mostly at first because your ears aren’t accustomed to His voice. As you do this, your ears and soul become more attuned to God. Slowly you start to recognize the whisper, the ‘still small voice’ (Kings 19:12).
It is then that the Bible comes alive, the Rosary carries the experiences of Mary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy explodes with the ocean of mercy and trust.
I admit that I don’t pray well. I tend more to say the prayers just to say them. The most meaningful prayer in my life, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, rolls through habit more often than desire of what it promises. But, I am training myself, God is training me, to surrender and pray not just say. When I find myself going through the motions, I draw myself back into the prayer, the heart of God.
When we come to a place of praying vs. saying, we can see how the simple words “Our Father” could overwhelm great saints like St. Theresa of Avila. When we pray vs say, we can see how deep and powerful (as well as intimidating) the words of the Prayer of Abandonment are..
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures –
I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.