Prayer: Whispering with God

Monday

Prayer: Whispering with God

Read Matthew 6:5-6

 

⁵“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

Hand cupped over the ear, a quiet voice sharing sensitive information.  Whispering.  It is an act of intimacy, of deep trust.  And to hear someone else’s whisper requires your full attention.

Simone Weil says that prayer is all about attention.  Like whispering, prayer requires our full attention.  She says, “Prayer is the orientation of all the attention of which the soul is capable toward God.  The quality of the attention counts for much in the quality of the prayer.”  When we can give God our full attention, we can have an intimate conversation with God.  We can pray well.

Perhaps this is why Jesus prayed in deserted places.  And perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to do the same – to go to our rooms, close the door, and pray in secret.  Because in deserted, secret places we can give God our full attention.  We can have an intimate conversation with God where we can really share what’s on our hearts.  In a way, Jesus is calling us to whisper with God.  This cannot be done with showy prayers that beg others to respect us.  It is done through heartfelt whispers that trust God and give God our full attention.

Today, I invite you to establish a secret place of prayer.  Where can you go to whisper with God?  Maybe you already have this place – a favorite chair, a beautiful spot outside, a particular route to walk.  If you don’t have one, find one today.  Go there and share what’s on your heart.  For God loves you and loves to hear your whispers.

 

~ Laura Johnson