#40DaysofMedia : day two.

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Day 2 of #40DaysofMedia.

When I was figuring out what I wanted to talk about each day, I realized that talking about prayer is so important in our daily lives, and Lent is definitely a good time to improve our prayer lives (not that there's ever really a bad time).

What is prayer? Simply put, it's talking with God. You can talk to him like you would anyone else--I've journaled "bro" and "freaking out" before. Thine, thee, and thou are not necessary. Prayer is a two-way street: one is the active prayer, but the other is listening. There's a difference between hearing and listening. To me, hearing is, well, hearing. Listening however, is keeping your mind and heart open as well as your ears. If you take nothing else from this, please remember that prayer is a two-way street.

We are all called into a relationship with Christ. He calls and calls and calls; it's simply a matter of us saying yes. Every relationship takes effort--praying to someone we can't see and sometimes can't hear isn't easy. If you love someone, you'll make time and you'll do whatever it takes. I know a few people who pray a decade of the Rosary each time they brush their teeth. Praying in the car is also a great method. My dear cousin and I do "bounce prayers" whenever we're together--one of starts off the prayer than we bounce off intentions whenever they come to mind. I really like to journal, while some people might be more fond of reading the Bible. When I was a freshman in high school, our principal told us that his prayers consist of three parts: prayers for his family, prayers for everyone in need of prayers (whether he knows them or not), and prayers for himself. There is no right or wrong way to pray, and everyone prays differently.

We can tell God anything! We can tell Him about our struggles with modesty (Sunday's topic!), our crushes, anything, without fear of being turned away! How beautiful is that!?

In Luke 11, Christ taught us to pray the Our Father. That's basically the perfect prayer, and the fact that it came directly from Christ Himself is even more awesome. Oh, by the way, "Amen" means "so be it," so that's a neat little tidbit.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hey Dad, today we come to You with everything. All our trials, joys, burdens—EVERYTHING. Help us to know You are always there for us. Give us the strength to be completely open. Allow us to know that we can turn to You at all times without judgment. I pray that no one here goes through what I’ve been through, and that if they do, that they know people are here for them. Please grant us the grace to help us develop a true, flourishing relationship with You. Help us to not only hear, but also to LISTEN. Let us know that we are always under Your protection and You never give us more than we can handle. Thank You for everything You have given us and everything You have yet to give us. Let us pray through the perfect prayer You gave us, 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.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A few pertinent quotes & verses:
-"the act of communicating with a god, especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving" -Chacha's definition of prayer
~"He would not urge us to ask, unless He were willing to give." -St. Augustine
~"Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will." -Mark 11:24
~"and just because we say the word 'Amen' it doesn't mean this conversation needs to end" -Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Let Us Pray"
~"a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love" -CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 2724 on contemplate prayer
~"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening" -1 Samuel 3:9

(sorry for the length of this, but it is all so important)

God bless!


Twitter:
today's #40DaysofMedia post is focused on prayer--such an important topic. Prayer is a two-way street, both active praying and listening