PRAYER #1: WHAT IS A PRAYER?

A prayer is an intimate conversation with God. When the partner of the conversation is no longer God, then it is no longer a prayer to God. How many times do we offer prayers, but not to God? How many times in our prayers do we focus on our problems and miseries instead of God? How many times do we view prayer as a request list of our desire? How many times do we view prayer simply as a ritual responsibility? And how many times do we feel a need of prayers after a guilt? Is there still a conversation with God in our prayers? Is there still an intimacy with God in our prayers? The means of the conversation is not always verbal, but the intimacy should always be there. Though God is the most holy and righteous one, He loves and is ready to embrace such sinful human being like us. We may speak, cry or even be silent. At the same time, God may speak to us according to His own creative way. A prayer is a glorious mystery. A single precise definition for prayer is therefore impossible. There is no rules or laws concerning prayers. The unchangeable aspects of prayers are a conversation and an intimacy with God. The strongest invitation for us to pray is indeed the very fact that God loves us always.