I am restless by nature - always thinking about something to do.
But writers on contemplative prayer tell me that I am missing the most important thing - enjoying God for who he is.
Stefan Smart, author of Deeper: Contemplative Prayer for Charismatic Christians, recounts the story of the Russian peasant who visited his local church every day to stand for an hour staring at a giant crucifix above the altar. Then, he would leave.
Curious, the priest finally asked him why he came to church just to stand in silence in front of the crucifix.
"Well, that's easy," said the peasant. "I look at him and he looks at me and we tell each other that we love each other."
"That, for me, is the essence of contemplative prayer," writes Smart. "It is about relationship. It is not about what we can get out of God, although these things are important at their proper time. Rather it is about spending time with him, relaxing into his love."
Jesus had something to say about this in Luke 10:38-42.
There, we read about his visit to the home of some friends, Martha and Mary. Mary sat at his feet drinking in what he had to say. Martha was fretting because of all the work she had to do in entertaining Jesus.
In exasperation, she asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her out.
Jesus replied: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
As Smart puts it, Christian contemplative prayer is about meeting with God "in order to be more available to him and to be changed by that encounter".
David puts it well: "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
The emphasis here is on being silent and focusing on God rather than our personal needs.
Smart suggests the following approach:
In the end, the method matters less than the end - loving God more and enjoying his love for us.
Just like the Russian peasant.
But writers on contemplative prayer tell me that I am missing the most important thing - enjoying God for who he is.
Stefan Smart, author of Deeper: Contemplative Prayer for Charismatic Christians, recounts the story of the Russian peasant who visited his local church every day to stand for an hour staring at a giant crucifix above the altar. Then, he would leave.
Curious, the priest finally asked him why he came to church just to stand in silence in front of the crucifix.
"Well, that's easy," said the peasant. "I look at him and he looks at me and we tell each other that we love each other."
"That, for me, is the essence of contemplative prayer," writes Smart. "It is about relationship. It is not about what we can get out of God, although these things are important at their proper time. Rather it is about spending time with him, relaxing into his love."
Jesus had something to say about this in Luke 10:38-42.
There, we read about his visit to the home of some friends, Martha and Mary. Mary sat at his feet drinking in what he had to say. Martha was fretting because of all the work she had to do in entertaining Jesus.
In exasperation, she asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her out.
Jesus replied: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
As Smart puts it, Christian contemplative prayer is about meeting with God "in order to be more available to him and to be changed by that encounter".
David puts it well: "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
The emphasis here is on being silent and focusing on God rather than our personal needs.
Smart suggests the following approach:
- Prepare by letting go of tension, calming down, surrendering to God;
- Open yourself to an awareness of God's presence and his love for you;
- If we sense barriers to intimacy with God, we should surrender them to him - our thoughts, ambitions, and personalities;
- We must accept God's will for our lives;
- We must confess our sins, accepting his forgiveness and move on without dwelling on our failures;
- After surmounting these barriers, we may become more aware of the presence and power of God;
- Then, we may feel a desire to thank him and praise him for his gifts; and
- We may feel drawn to intercede for others, lifting up the situation to God.
In the end, the method matters less than the end - loving God more and enjoying his love for us.
Just like the Russian peasant.
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