 125. Prayer |
"It is a reminder to ourselves that we are helpless without God's support. No effort is complete without prayer, without a definite recognition that the best human endeavor is of no effect if it has not God's blessing behind it.
Prayer is a call to humility. It is a call to self-purification, to inward search."
-Mahatma Gandhi
He (God) that planted the ear. Shall he not hear? He (God) that formed the eye. Shall he not see? He (God) that teacheth man knowledge. Shall not he know?
-Psalms 94:9-10
St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833) is one of the most luminous of all the spiritual personalities who have ever lived among men. It seems to me that he and St. Francis of Assisi are the two most exemplary masters of spiritual life to be found in the great Christian tradition.Each was himself what could be called a "Siddha," a completed one. An immediate agent of God. Each was also characterized by exclusive and most profound devotion to the God-man Jesus. In both cases spiritual life took the form of astonishing absorption in Jesus as Christ, guru, and God. And this devotion manifested in each of them as perfect wisdom, illumination, spiritual understanding, and gifts of spiritual powers.
-Franklin Jones
"Only those who have interior prayer and watch over their souls receive the gifts of grace."
-St. Seraphim
Those who have truly resolved to serve God must practice the remembrance of God and unceasing prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ, saying with the mind: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
-St. Seraphim
In brief, do everything as though in the presence of God and so, in whatever you do, you need never allow your conscience to wound and denounce you, for not having done your work well.
-St. Simeon
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins.
For we also forgive everyone,
Who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
-Jesus, Luke 11:2
The Lord's Prayer is the only prayer given to us by Jesus. In this prayer there is only one word which is more important than all the others. This important word is also the first word out of the mouth of Jesus, the word is "OUR," not my Father, not your Father, but "OUR" Father.
