Some think of praying in terms of reciting specific prayers. But others also see it as a constant effort to experience God no matter what we’re doing.
That small distinction of perspective brings such a powerfully transforming element to prayer. When we see prayer as a tangible experience, rather than only a repetition of words, we realize how deep and healing it can be. Prayer that springs from a spiritual understanding of God’s inspired message, felt and honored, truly helps and heals. Christ Jesus realized this and lovingly instructed his followers, “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7).
Words, whether said aloud or mentally, certainly can be a good starting point for prayer. Yet we don’t need to stop praying once we’ve reached the end of a sentence. We can always go deeper, yearning to feel and love the meaning behind the words, and then bringing them alive through our actions. The Bible describes this approach in a beautiful way: “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:25, New Living Translation).
