Talking to God - Rector's Rambling for March 7, 2021

 I have had people say to me, almost as if embarrassed, ‘well Father, most of the time I just talk to God rather than pray.”  We are three weeks into Lent and we are certainly thinking about, and doing more, prayer.   Lent encourages it!  But we do need to remember that there are various types of prayer, and that this variety is a positive thing.

In our Anglican Tradition we speak of three major categories of prayer.  The Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer is a wonderfully stable and ordered way to pray through the Psalms and the Bible.   It helps us to keep regular about prayer with well written prayers collected over the centuries that helps to keep us doing so with right doctrine. The Holy Communion Service helps us to glorify God and to receive the grace assured to us by Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  And the third is that time of private, individual prayer. 

Although there are other corporate worship services that we conduct here (Benediction, Stations of the Cross), it is that “most of the time I just talk to God” that cements everything together. 

Time of private prayer can be a set aside time to speak with the Lord and listen quietly, meditate by thinking about a portion of Scripture or holy reading and asking God for depth on the subject, offering thanksgiving in gratitude for His Blessings, and offering intercessions to Him for ourselves and for others.

But throughout the day we should also take a moment or two, frequently, to offer up little prayers and ‘just talk’ to Our Lord.  Make Him a regular part of all of our day rather than just once or twice a day.