Ignatian Prayer

"Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God."  Billy Graham

I participate in a small group called Raise the Bar that meets twice a month to discuss topics related to spirituality and community.  It was started by a group of parishioners at Trinity UCC in Belleville.  At each meeting, a group member leads us through a discussion of prepared questions.   Last night's topic was prayer.   The questions posed included what is prayer, how to pray, and what to pray.   As the discussion evolved, the group defined prayer as any conversation with God and that if we consider God, who is love, in our actions, our actions become a prayer.   The group also felt that even if we are not praying, God is listening to our hearts.

In my prayer journal I no longer ask for specific outcomes.  Instead I ask for strength, wisdom, love, and peace for myself and others.  The Ignatian prayer life has taught me that each one of us has been granted unique gifts (talents) by God and that within us is placed a dream.  When we work hard to strengthen our skills consistent with our gifts, make choices out of love for God and others, be open to other paths, work towards our dream, and then release the outcome to God, we can reveal the Kingdom of God on Earth. In this way we find peace knowing God is at work in this life and the life to come.   This is what Jesus meant when he said the Kingdom of Earth is near.