On prayer

Today we had the second sunday school lessons on prayer. It is definitely interesting hearing others' viewpoint about what they pray and how they pray. At least one common I found out from all the teens is that these days people are not as conscious about praying praises or words of adoration anymore. I suppose it's because we sing it and hear it so often that oftentimes people feel that it's a "routine phrase" saying "Lord I love you" or "Father I want to praise you for xxx and xxx"...

When I look in my own heart tho, I do find the same problem too. I'm big on "thanksgiving" and "supplication" (out of the ACTS of prayer), but very, very weak on adoration. I really need to challenge myself in this aspect!

The other interesting thing is that many have not come across even one prayer that they considered to be very sincere and moving--that they can really feel the author's heart and desire for God. I'm truly surprised--maybe because I have been moved by many prayers before (and have shed quite a few tears too)--it's almost like I can really substitute myself directly in what the writer was thinking at the time of composing the piece!! Anyways, I told myself that from next week on I will share with the teens famous prayers. Of course Psalms will be the best place to look at (and where I find a lot of my encouragement from), but I think I'll try to find prayers written by people of different centuries. I truly hope that this coming year they will learn and be able to experience the power of prayer.

My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really understand myself.
And the fact that I think I am followingYour will
does not mean I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
Does in fact please you.
And I hope I have the desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I mayseem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear for you are ever with me and
you will never leave me to face my troubles alone.
-Thomas Merton (1915-1968)