Prayer is not a stratagem for occasional use, a refuge to resort to now and then. It is rather like an established residence for the innermost self. All things have a home: the bird has a nest, the fox has a hole, the bee has a hive. A soul without prayer is a soul without a home.
This kind of helps me with the previous dilemna I am struggling with...maybe the whole idea of "call" or true vocation can fit into the idea of always having prayer be a part of who and where you are. If we are always open to prayer or "are" prayer then I guess WHATEVER we do is great, even holy. Maybe some of us just "know" our hearts desire and maybe some(me!) are not even sure of that..I sure know the people I love and care about and activities that make sense, are fun meaningful etc...is this a case of looking too hard for the bluebird of happiness?? The saying goes when you are not looking it lands softly on your shoulder. I may come to realize that it already has and maybe I am not "meant" for a big deal career....just some thoughts on a beautiful day!!
We all have to learn to trust our instincts, to rely on our intuitive knowledge, and a prayerful existence makes this easier. If you feel true vocational call, even if you are not yet sure what it looks like or how to manifest it, you can trust that it is real. Through prayer, meditation and creative visualization, you can get in better touch with your heart's desire and receive direction on making it happen. When we pray, settling our hearts into Love and Light, it's amazing how God brings us to where we need to be, to our soul's true home.
What a wonderful message it is! How miserable and pitiful it is that a soul drifts around with no home! I like to add: Prayer is like a spring you may visit any time to quench your soul's thirst.
chin-kook kim-
I simply want to say that your statement about "how miserable and pitiful it is that a Soul drifts around with no home" plucks within me a deep Spiritual cord to take-up these 'lost Souls' to my own "established Residence of Prayer". So that they TOO may find a "nest,a hole,a hive--a HOME" in which to re-discover the "established Residence of their innermost Self"--to FIND their Soul.
Thank You and God Bless,
margaret rose
Gwen --- I think you are in a hard spot in looking for what you want to do next. While working in the secular world, I more "fell into jobs" than I actually did s search. But now, serving in a spiritual world, it is harder to discern. The BOSS - GOD - isn't someone who I sit down at a table with and ask questions face to face, expecting to get into a conversation as I would with another human. Yes, there are plenty of middle management people around, but I know that everyone has agendas, and that they don't always line up with scripture as well as they should.
That being said, I think the word "prayer" is daunting sometimes, there are books written about it in addition to the bible, there are how to's, and on and on and on. And when I want to say, well prayer is the word "we" use to describe being in conversation with God - that belittles the process, because God is the creator, etc., and therefore is due reverence. Talking to him is not like sitting down with one of our friends, etc. There is also the fact that often (at least on my part), it takes time to receive answers to prayer. And is what we think is an answer to prayer really an answer to prayer, or us just deciding what should be done? And it goes on .......
i rarely get online before school...this morning i had the illusion of "extra" time and so as the computer was booting up i remembered i also wanted to write an encouraging note to a friend who, in the last 8 months, has suffered the loss of two siblings within a few months of each other and now is facing a major geographical move--truly, "smarting" a bit at the ripping of roots.
She has always lived in that dwelling place of prayer....
Providentially i just "happened" to open this email and so was able to pen this quotation inside her little card. How awesome to have encouraging words provided at just the right time and place....
PLUS, i have always profoundly adored AJH since finding "God in Search of Man" in the early '80s. I recommend it....
Deeply distressed over the lack of my own home for some years, instead living with members of my family who kindly keep me, I have taken in the idea of the journeying toward God, toward Jesus Christ, as my going home. While deeply frustrating at times when reality appears less spiritually and more materially relevant, I am reminded that it is the conversation that brings me home away from home and God is all about being with us.
The soul is the presence of the divine within each of us. Prayer is the communicating link between our human nature and the soul. Grace is the linking internet that enables divine communication. Sin is the state of being off-line.
The soul is the presence of the divine within each of us. Prayer is the communicating link between our human nature and the soul. Grace is the linking internet that enables divine communication. Mortal sin is the state of being off-line.
Thank you Lydia and Deanna for support on this issue.
Just adding to Lydia and Deanna. Lydia your idea of feeling the call even if not sure what it looks like is really helpful and Deanna, the idea of things maybe being a little different when you are in a different place, more discerning....helped too. Both of those things are true. I feel like my spirit is in pretty much the right place and i have changed my ability to work in certain environments....for now I will keep working on prayer and trust!
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