Nothing is more difficult than prayer. In all other tasks of religious life, however exacting, one can sometimes rest, but there is no rest in prayer, up to the end of one's life.
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Vic
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 9:24am
Stunning when words capture and express one's heart.
Yes, it can be very difficult and yes, prayer is indeed resting in God. Living in the midst of such paradoxes is a central part of our journey in faith.
Prayer is like cuddling up in the lap of God the Father and discussing your day and what is on your mind, especially the tough stuff. In that there is rest.
But if rest in this context means the need to be ongoing, unceasing, life is best lived with no rest from prayer.
Prayer is the most difficult thing for me in my spiritual life. The prayers themselves often take me to dark places in my own life but certainly in the life of God's creation where we humans have managed to trounce justice and refuse to live in peace. There is no rest in prayer, it is hard work that is an integral part of bringing about the kindom of God.
That is not to say, as others have, that there can be deep rest in God, but that isn't what Ms. Weil meant. Her invitation was to never rest in your prayer life and that is an invitation I try to accept every day, sometimes with success, and sometimes not.
This is to me an inadequate concept of prayer. Prayer is rest itself in the assurance and blessing of God's love and Presence. The great hymn "Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire" in several wondrous verses expresses it most beautifully
NO REST for the Heart Beating in LOVE -
Still She finds her rest in LOVING THEE.
NO REST for the Breath gasping for TRUTH -
Still She Breaths in Truth Knowing THEE.
NO REST for the weary SOUL Thirsting for GOD -
Still She is filled
To the BRIM in THY GRACE.
KNOWING NO REST She Prays Always-
Still SHE finds Her REST IN THEE!
Stunning when words capture and express one's heart.
Oh but prayer IS rest! Resting in God.
Yes, it can be very difficult and yes, prayer is indeed resting in God. Living in the midst of such paradoxes is a central part of our journey in faith.
Prayer is to be at rest in God's presence.
Thank you for bringing some of Simone Weil to us. What a gifted, but complex, troubled soul she was! So much we can learn from her yet.
It depends on what you mean by rest.
Prayer is like cuddling up in the lap of God the Father and discussing your day and what is on your mind, especially the tough stuff. In that there is rest.
But if rest in this context means the need to be ongoing, unceasing, life is best lived with no rest from prayer.
Me
Jesus invites us to rest in him ("Come onto me and I will give you rest.") When we silently bask in God's love, that's the deepest rest there is.
Prayer is the most difficult thing for me in my spiritual life. The prayers themselves often take me to dark places in my own life but certainly in the life of God's creation where we humans have managed to trounce justice and refuse to live in peace. There is no rest in prayer, it is hard work that is an integral part of bringing about the kindom of God.
That is not to say, as others have, that there can be deep rest in God, but that isn't what Ms. Weil meant. Her invitation was to never rest in your prayer life and that is an invitation I try to accept every day, sometimes with success, and sometimes not.
Thank you for sharing this!
Sandra
This is to me an inadequate concept of prayer. Prayer is rest itself in the assurance and blessing of God's love and Presence. The great hymn "Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire" in several wondrous verses expresses it most beautifully
NO REST for the Heart Beating in LOVE -
Still She finds her rest in LOVING THEE.
NO REST for the Breath gasping for TRUTH -
Still She Breaths in Truth Knowing THEE.
NO REST for the weary SOUL Thirsting for GOD -
Still She is filled
To the BRIM in THY GRACE.
KNOWING NO REST She Prays Always-
Still SHE finds Her REST IN THEE!
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