Prayer
Finding the Heart’s True Home
by Richard Foster
Part 3— Moving Outward
Chapter 15—Praying
the Ordinary
“ Do not forget that the value and interest of life
is not so much to do conspicuous things…as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.”
Teilhard of Chardin
OPENING PRAYER
1. Transformation
and intimacy both cry out for ministry.
The
world writhes under the pain of arrogance and self-sufficiency.
Spiritual
bankruptcy.
Reservoirs
vs. canals.
2. The
Heresy of a 5% spirituality is overcome by praying the ordinary.
Living
and dying an ordinary life—Richard Foster’s mother
The
holiness of created things
Jesus
was born in lowly circumstances to sanctify the commonplace
He
wove all things together
Have
“an unspeakable reverence for the holiness of created things.” (Thomas Merton)
3. Prayer in Action
Quakers,
Shakers, vows of chastity and poverty
Mother
Teresa did many small, ordinary things with such love that they became a great thing.
Prayer
is not an additional “duty” to do in our own strength, but our life becomes prayer as we do all thing
unto Him.
“Let
the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and sanctify the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17
Sculptors
in the Middle Ages carved the backside of a piece of art, knowing that only God would see it.
St.
Therese of Lisieux practiced her “little way”, Brother Lawrence made his
kitchen work a prayer.
4. Prayer
only makes sense as it is lived out daily.
Who
do you see around you whose life is prayer in action?
Think
about times and activities in your life that are prayer. What are they? Why do
you see them as prayer?
5. Work
is part of our original design
It
preceded the Fall—Adam named the animals and tended the garden.
God’s
grace often allows the results of our small tasks to outweigh the effort they took.
Work
is a reflection of the nature of God who created the universe.
6. Prayer
of Action
Every
action performed in the sight of God, according to His will, and in the manner that He wills is better than
any spoken prayer. What are some
examples you can think
of?
Waiting—becomes
part of praying the ordinary. To wait
patiently is to trust God.
Praying
as you go through the day—the person you see in the hall, the accident beside the road, planting
a garden, doing the dishes, as you put something in the oven, as you begin a project…..
7. Holiness is Homemade
Prayers
in the context of family—the home is the “forming center” where children learn about God through
structure and example.
Creating
a retreat space in the home—a sanctuary
Blessing
children and loved ones during the day, before bed
Prayers
of release—letting go, respecting boundaries.
8. Common
Ventures of Life
Birth,
marriage, work, death.
In
Jesus’ common birth, the the common and the sacred were united.
All
work and all places are sacred, because God is everywhere
“May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you
wherever He may send you,
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect
you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He
has shown you,
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our
doors.”
--Blessing from the Celtic Daily Prayer
Closing
Prayer
Almighty, most holy, most high God, thank you for
paying attention to small things. Thank
you for valuing the insignificant. Thank
you for being interested in the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. Thank you for caring about me. In Jesus’ name. –Amen.
You can share our lessons with others who can’t be
here in person by referring them to
http://christian-transformationblog.blogspot.com
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