10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10 – 14, New International Version)
Theme: Discipleship
Context:
Yesterday we went back to the 4th century AD to reflect on Saint Augustine’s thoughts on prayer and faith. Your comments were stimulating. Thanks!
Today we’ll move forward a few centuries into the Middle Ages. There we encounter another disciple of Jesus who thought deeply about prayer. Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033 – 1109) was a noted theologian, monk, and archbishop who is renowned for his arguments for the existence of God. He is also known for his written prayers and meditations. One of Saint Anselm’s prayers provides a powerful reminder of a key dynamic in prayer, a deepening relationship between God and those who seek Him:
O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek You, where and how to find You. You are my God and You are my all and I have never seen You. You have made me and remade me, You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, Still I do not know You. I have not yet done that for which I was made. Teach me to seek You. I cannot seek You unless You teach me or find You unless You show Yourself to me. Let me seek You in my desire, let me desire You in my seeking. Let me find You by loving You, let me love You when I find You. Amen
Saint Anselm’s prayer reveals a very passionate interaction with God. The references to seeking and finding point to a relationship that is being deepened in prayer.
Bible Passage:
Our Scripture passage today describes how God spoke to the Children of Israel while they were exiles in Babylon. Please note the intimacy expressed through the references to seeking and finding.
Question:
In what ways do you experience a deepening of your relationship with God in prayer?
Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else. Please leave a comment on the blog.
March 12, 2024 at 7:19 am
I experience a deepening relationship with God through prayer by setting aside time daily to pray. I find that the comfort and solace I get in prayer improves the earlier I rise to pray. My prayers are more heartfelt when I am going through a crisis and lack depth when things are going well therefore I started to use a prayer guide to help me pray. Through the pray guide my prayers are expanding from requesting my needs and wants be fulfilled to “seeking God’s face” -by being in his presence.
March 12, 2024 at 7:59 am
In prayer I become more transparent and vulnerable. I know I can’t hide from God. I can’t make up for inadequacies. He knows and loves me anyway. Prayer reminds me of this love and draws me into a deeper relationship.
March 12, 2024 at 8:16 am
There is an extra special feeling, comfort, and assurance knowing there is someone I can go to about everything, share my most private thoughts and feelings with, all while knowing this person is always dependable, non-judgmental, and always does what is best for me.
This is how I feel when I talk to God.
This “interaction” during prayer is like the deepening of a relationship with a good friend. After each interaction, I realize I have more trust and I feel more secure for the next time of prayer.
March 12, 2024 at 9:15 am
I have a deepening relationship with God through prayer especially when I am in my most vulnerable and weakest situations. I always feel God holds me when I feel I am very much attacked or when others seemed to be so unfair. It is only the Lord who can make me feel whole and truly loved. He never fails me. That is the very reason why despite all the hurdles in my life, I am still standing and not bothered by what negative or hurtful words others who may not like me say about me. My relationship with Jesus is amazing because he knows me well and despite my shortcomings I am accepted and always encouraged. I have been to a point in my life that I experienced not being able to forgive but only with God’s grace and mercy that I can humble myself. It is because of my relationship with Jesus, my openness to Him and the knowledge that He loved me and died for me that I can always bounce back , start all over again and praise Him even when it is hard to do so. Being grateful in all circumstances is also one way to see how deep my relationship is with the Lord.
March 12, 2024 at 8:24 pm
One of the ways I experience a deepening of my relationship with God in prayer is that I try to see things from God’s perspective not mine. God, what are you saying to me? However, usually that takes time and I have to keep on seeking Him for a while before I can truly discern what He is saying to me. It is worth it though, as it is so good to know His heart about something and operate from that perspective.
March 12, 2024 at 9:30 pm
I experience a deepening of my relationship with God in prayer , as it is an important way of keeping close to God. John 15:5 explains it well for me that He is the vine and we are the branches,
without God, I can do nothing. Praying for specific guidance, solutions, for others, etc, and realizing the outcomes in ways I did not think possible. There is less anxiety and worry knowing that I have prayed about a situation. Proverbs 3:5-6 also helps me to explain, where it states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, ……..He will make your paths straight.” Without prayer, I would feel adrift.