. . . to unceasing prayer.
A friend sent me this quotation from Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) – I share it with you. It builds on what we can do with the chatter that goes on in our heads.
Our minds are always active. We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking. You might say our thinking is “unceasing.” Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears. Our ability to think is our greatest gift, but it is also the source of our greatest pain. Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts? No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the source of all love.
Let’s break out of our isolation and realize that Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.
Nouwen was a priest, professor, pastor, writer and psychologist.
His main interest was pastoral ministry, and he knew that the comparatively new discipline of psychology was important, despite the fact that Church circles felt it undermined faith. He wanted to engage with people where they are and lead them to a closer relationship with God.
Let’s listen to the chatter in our heads. And let’s consider what it means to have Someone who dwells in the centre of our being listening with love.
How might the chatter change . . ?
And Henri Nouwen also said:
“There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness —
Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are conceived in vulnerability.”
Thank you for sharing the fruits of your vulnerability with us.
xx
I have not read any of Henri Nouwen’s books (he has written over 30) and yet I have heard his name mentioned often.
Thank you for giving us another thought-provoking quote. Ax
WOW great blog, reading this I was reminded of the scripture in 2 Cor 10 v 5 worth a read and meditation, we also have heard many times of praying without ceasing, and have felt it a little difficult but looking at it this way makes more sense of how to do it, our minds are definitely the battle ground, and do like to keep us busy with things that are contrary to the word of God,trust we will all have a deeper revelation of this as we go through each day. Thank you for sharing with us all God Bless You.
Thank you – that is a very helpful scripture: 2 Cor 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”
And I do agree about our minds being a battleground. Ax
The unconditional love changes the chatter, which can be panic strickening, to a calmer smoother conversation. It will have highs and lows and our feelings will fluctuate, yet it will be held in confidence with the One who really cares about our wellbeing.
I have this picture of a pressure cooker hissing and spitting fiercely away in my head as I reflect on this and then I see God’s hand reaching down releasing the pressure bringing it to a safe place to deal with.
This made me reflect on Mark 4: 35 – 41 Wind and Wave Obey Jesus, particularily verse 39
– Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
The situations/ circumstances we find ourselves in will still be there but how we will deal with it will be driven by Him in calm and not panic if we allow Him into the ‘chatter’.
Life changing – Liberating – Freedom
God bless xx
What a helpful picture of a pressure cooker – especially when linked to Jesus’ power 🙂
Thank you Ax
I had read the quote by Henri Nouwen in a book of meditations by Liz Babbs – the morning you put him in your blog 🙂
I see God smiling with us in this. This is part of HOW WE KNOW that God is with us.
“He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mortals . . . the Lord Almighty is his name” Amos 4:13
He is weaving us all together for a purpose 🙂 Thank you for being on board for the journey.
Ax
Hi there – – – I find there are several different ‘modes’ of prayer. Many of them involve me mentally “verbalising” my conversation with God. This can end up like a ‘bit of a chat’, which can be helpful, but doesn’t relate very closely to my spiritual instinct.
But the one which is most moving, the one which is most affirming, is the one where I try to just empty my mind and (metaphorically) relax into his arms for as long as I can keep my head empty.
It’s really really hard to do – – I have to actively fight all thoughts back out of my head.
I can’t keep it up for long – but I’m getting better, I hope.
I rather think this may be akin to what the desert fathers were doing in their meditations so long ago.
I find location is helpful and if I can I’d choose to practice this in an empty church building – – I’m just so blessed that St Paul’s keeps its doors open during the day, which makes it really easy for me.
Not sure if this was what you were driving at or not, but there you go !!!
Hi, Col – I am absolutely with you in this. Thank you.
Have a look at today’s post (Wed 14th April) – which I was drafting as you wrote your comment.
There are modes of communication in prayer that are intimate, affirming, conversational, challenging, silent, and listening – a bit like being married!
Ax