Isn’t this a prayer?
to laugh and soak in the sunshine,
to play?
to take in hearty gulp after gulp of fresh air?
to hold a loved one in your arms
cheek to cheek,
sweetness to sweet?
to open your heart so wide it aches
for someone else’s pain?
to reach your limits and be left with no other choice
but to open up
into a Love that’s greater than yours?
Isn’t this a prayer?
to expand and stretch your heart beyond this world
out of necessity, for that same Love –
to never give up,
to fall down and get up
again and again,
to keep breathing
and hoping,
and taking
one step into the Light at a time …
wanting more,
believing …
Isn’t this a prayer?
to let go of your plans and open up
into a bigger dream that you can feel in your bones
but can’t see or experience
yet …
Isn’t this a prayer?
to stand in the Truth long enough
for the smoke and ashes to finally settle
and reveal
a beautiful sun?
for the waves of grace to finally crash down
all around, undeniably-
too beautiful for words
Isn’t this a prayer?
to be present and open to what this moment brings?
to embrace this great gift,
this touch,
this taste,
this smell,
this angel whisper…
I believe
We can love without ceasing,
We can pray without realizing
We can experience the wonder
of divine possibilities
in this world
Before He died, Jesus taught us a beautiful prayer:
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
No matter how many times we pray it, we may never fully realize it’s power and significance.
Jesus also promised us that the power of the Holy Spirit will be with us always – in our hearts and in the world, as long as we believe in Him.
John 14:15-31 New International Version (NIV)
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
No matter how long we live, we can probably never fully understand everything Jesus said or realize the power of the Holy Spirit that is with us always – advocating for us, teaching us, guiding us, giving us peace, joy and especially love. But it’s worth a try!
Today, I encourage you to reflect on all the ways God is present in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit – in church, in community, in nature, with your loved ones, in times of joy and in times of struggle.
I encourage you to expand your definition of prayer in light of the fact that Christ is always with you as you walk through your busy life loving and caring for others, when you allow yourself to be guided and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
How do you personally encounter the Lord throughout your daily life? When do you experience “heaven on earth” so to speak? How has the Spirit of God been with you through good times and bad? Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my prayers.
Lord, give us the grace to follow You and be transformed by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, so our lives can become living prayers and offerings to You. Help us to live in full realization of Your presence with us always in good times and bad. In Jesus name, we pray.
Written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 3/23/2019