St. Paul's command to pray without ceasing has always terrified me. How could I possibly do that and continue to live my life out here in the world?
A few weeks ago, the daily Henri Nouwen meditation shared words of wisdom that have stuck with me since:
"Our minds are always active. We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking. You might say our thinking is "unceasing." Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears. Our ability to think is our greatest gift, but it is also the source of our greatest pain. Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts? No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the source of all love.
Let's break out of our isolation and realize that Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds."
I do think constantly. I aspire to move into this "continuing dialogue" in a way that redeems my constant thought.
Comment below with your thoughts:
Have you found ways to be in dialogue with the Lord throughout your day? How do you understand the command to pray always?
or, simply answer:
Did you pray today?
Be a Woman of the Word
