The Prayer Room (Flickr image)
One reason I read the Daily Office at least every day is the story. When I miss a day, I feel compelled to “catch up” on the unfolding stories of both the Old and New Testaments but mainly the Old. The New Testament I hear more often on varying occasions but the Old offers a rich tradition still speaking today.
I like the formal prepared Daily Office because it guides me in my dedicated time of devotion while participating with others world-wide reading the very same or similar passages and prayers. Is that not cool or what? I pray with the world; even, perhaps, with the universe! Having the resource of a structured prayer format also helps me when I pray after a very long night shift – God knows I frequently co-mingle both the traditional and contemporary forms of the Lord’s Prayer secondary to the dull but earnest mind I bring to Her.
Another thing I do in my formal prayer time is shut up and listen 
. Too many times I babble on and on, filling a very patient God with my and others’ needs. Of course, this is appropriate but after participating in a Centering Prayer group, I see the benefit of keeping my mouth shut, sitting comfortably and listening. Often, God then brings to my mind those in need whom I would not of thought in my own prayers.
One can do Centering Prayer alone or in a group; most in our group try to do both so we benefit ourselves, one another and God throughout the week as well on the Monday nights we meet. The centering prayer I do in my daily office has less time dedicated than when I listen/pray on its own. I want to change this and do my full 20 minutes within my daily office. The times I would not do this is coming off a night shift – I could fall asleep right in my chair!
Let me be very clear – all and any prayer is right – the form is not crucial; the intent is – talking and sharing with God our most mundane and outstanding concerns (in my mind, using the word “outstanding” or “outlier” refers to that beyond a normal routine at home, work or with the dog rescue).
One of my new habits, set for May, will be to read the entire Bible – just read it. I get bits and pieces in the daily office and lectio but haven’t read the entire Bible in a long, long time. The scope of God’s love for us, the world He made and our futures are grounded in Her Word – most of all, in THE Word, Jesus Christ.
What daily prayer practices inform your walk with God?
Related articles
- You Are My Beloved – A Sermon by Peter Traben Haas (contemplativechristians.com)
- The call to do this (prayforyourcity.wordpress.com)
- Distinctive Lutheran Spirituality / Spiritual Practices (and some reflection on a semester looking at Spiritual Practices) (loveandbelief.wordpress.com)
