“They ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).
In sorrow and in joy, in hardship and in relief, in failure and in success, pray at all times and do not lose heart, “for prayer works miracles” (Saint Mother Teresa).
Saint John Chrysostom says, “Prayer is a mighty weapon and an inexhaustible treasure.”
And Pope Francis said, “The first step in prayer is to be humble and turn to the Father, saying, ‘Look at me, I am a sinner’; and the Lord will listen.”
Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God; it is also rest and joy, because in prayer we converse with a tender, kind and loving Father, a God we can see with the eyes of faith and feel in a contrite and humble heart when we pray with reverence and reflection.
There is no doubt that the Lord, who knows everything we need, can give us what we need without our asking, for he is the source of all good things and graces. But he is ready and waiting to listen, because he wants us to speak to him as his children. Christ taught us the most beautiful prayer, the Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father, who art in heaven…”).
Through baptism we became his children, and we can call him Father and speak to him as children, because he is our God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer is the key to the door of heaven and the door of mercy, the door of healings and miracles… And the most beautiful prayer is the prayer of thanksgiving, praise, glorification and rejoicing.
“Pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16).
Accept, O Lord, every prayer we raise to you; make it a sacrifice of thanksgiving pleasing to you, and let it rise before you like incense.
Prepared by Rita of the Sawt El Rab team
