Prayer as Conversation

[Bubba_Switzler]

While we are all familiar with the traditional forms of prayer, e.g. liturgy and rosary, prayer is oftend described as a conversation.

For example:

ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/prayer-is-a-conversation/

But a conversation is an interchange of thoughts:

dictionary.reference.com/browse/conversation

We can speak to God, of course, but how do we hear what God has to say? Many people claim that God has spoken to them from Abraham to the crazy panhandler on the street.

What some people seem to mean by hearing God is their intuitive beliefs and feelings, at least those of a higher nature. Others hear God in the events of daily life attaching spiritual meaning ordinary encounters.

Atheists often deride Christians for their imaginary friendship; a one-way conversation seems to fit that.

Behind the idea of prayer as conversation is the idea that God wants a union with us. Conversation is obviously one of the most important ways we draw closer to others. Doing things together is another way.

How do you converse with God?

 

[edarlitrix]

I try to listen to what I hear/read in Scripture… and think about how this might apply to my life. I think that is a way God can talk to us… through Scripture… through the words, encouragement, discouragement, challenges and kindnesses that come from other people.

 

[Edward_H]

While we are all familiar with the traditional forms of prayer, e.g. liturgy and rosary, prayer is oftend described as a conversation.

For example:

ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-spiritual-exercises/prayer-is-a-conversation/

But a conversation is an interchange of thoughts:

dictionary.reference.com/browse/conversation

We can speak to God, of course, but how do we hear what God has to say? Many people claim that God has spoken to them from Abraham to the crazy panhandler on the street.

What some people seem to mean by hearing God is their intuitive beliefs and feelings, at least those of a higher nature. Others hear God in the events of daily life attaching spiritual meaning ordinary encounters.

Atheists often deride Christians for their imaginary friendship; a one-way conversation seems to fit that.

Behind the idea of prayer as conversation is the idea that God wants a union with us. Conversation is obviously one of the most important ways we draw closer to others. Doing things together is another way.

How do you converse with God?

Great question.

We can hear Him in the Word of God.
We can hear Him in the inspirations, resolutions, affections (meaning a movement of the will, perhaps to change our ways, to improve in some virtue, to root out some vice) we get when we are in the middle of a period of mental prayer.

These small and gentle movements of our soul…often ideas we get to improve ourselves…come often from God.

Sometimes we can hear Him in questions others ask us. Again very gentle, small pushes in the direction of greater love, generosity, self-donation.

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

Here’s a good book on prayer, written by a Jesuit, and used as text for beginning prayer classes at seminaries. Easy to read and there is audio version read by author.

It covers prayer as we move from

1. talking at God, to
2. talking to God, to
3. listening to God.

There is a “Look Inside” at Amazon:


Mark Thibodeaux S.J. (Author)

 

[Bubba_Switzler]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. Thanks, Mystical Seeker, for that book recommendation. It looks like what I need here.

It doesn’t sound like anyone is claiming that they literally hear God as a distinct voice in their head, much less from a burning bush. It’s a far more subtle thing.

 

[christofirst]

My conversational prayer to God is definitely a monologue, where I do all the talking! But in the course of my talking it out, sometimes new ideas come to me, a solution to a problem, or a new way of seeing a situation, and I see the hand of God in this.