PRAYER: Understanding The Concept Of Prayer

Rev. Fr. Anselm Jimoh

The topic of prayer is a very wide and interesting one especially in the face of contemporary Christianity where we have all forms and shades of prayer. I intend to carefully, gradually, and steadily guide the reader through an understanding of prayer so that at the end of this series, we may have a better appreciation and attitude towards prayer.

Prayer is an indispensible part of our Christian relationship with God; we cannot do without prayers as Christians. It is a means by which we cement our relationship with God, submit ourselves to the grace of God, and a channel through which God makes His graces available to us.

Traditionally prayer is the raising of our minds and hearts to God. (McBrien, 1994). We do this by thinking of God, adoring and praising Him, thanking and begging Him for blessings for both our bodies and souls. (Penny Catechism, n.142). According to St. Therese of Lisieux, “For me prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy.” Prayer is a phenomenon that enables us live out our vital, personal, conscious, and responsible relationship with the One, true and living God. (CCC, n.2558). The Catechism of the Catholic Church further describes prayer as a gift from God that is implanted in our hearts to express the covenant between God; the divine and us, who are human. It is a form of communion between us and God since it enables us come into the presence of God. (CCC, nos. 2558 2565).

These various definitions and descriptions of prayer point out a number of important things about prayer. First of all is the fact that there are possibly four types of prayer; (i) the prayer of adoration, whose immediate purpose is to praise the glory of God. (ii) The prayer of thanksgiving, which gives gratitude to God for His blessings upon us the Eucharist is the perfect prayer of thanksgiving. (iii) The prayer of contrition, which expresses our sorrow for sin, and (iv) the prayer of intercession or petition, which is by far the most popular in the practice of Christianity today. This is asking God for blessings for ourselves and for others.

Another important aspect of prayer noted in the traditional definition of prayer above is that it is the raising up of our minds and hearts to God. It is interesting to note that this does not include the raising of our voices to God. This is a very common sight at prayers today, as we hear Christians howl and shout in the name of prayer. Some call it charismatic, and others call it Pentecostal. To be honest, I see nothing charismatic or Pentecostal about this. It is simply shouting at God, disturbing the peace of others and the environment, and to say the least, it is insultive to the divinity of God. To be charismatic is to exercise an active positive charism attracting to God and attractive to humans, and to be Pentecostal is to allow the Holy Spirit use us to the glory of God. The Holy Spirit will definitely not use us to shout at God or be disrespectful and insensitive to the needs of those around us, whose peace and quiet we corrupt at such shouting frenzies, we call prayer. Shouting at prayer sessions as it is done these days is surely not giving glory to God.

Prayer as the raising up of our minds and hearts to God makes it a communicative act. As a communicative act, it involves some form of language, mostly verbal, but can also be non-verbal. This notwithstanding, it goes beyond language. As a verbal act of communication, it does not depend on the excellence of speech; for the one who stammers and the professor of oral English can both pray perfectly to God given that all other conditions for a perfect prayer are met.

The attitude of rushing and talking non-stop, without punctuations, in the name of praying is surely a wrong attitude. Unfortunately, it is one of the characteristic marks of what many contemporary Christians see as “powerful prayer.” If prayer is directed towards God, our Father Almighty, why should we address Him in that manner! I wonder how many parents will see anything good in their children addressing them as if they (the children) are rap artist, when they come to make request of them. How much more should we then think of that as a proper and respectful way to address God, the Father Almighty!

If prayer is a gift of God that brings us into His presence as the Catechism of the Catholic Church rightly tells us, it is only right and proper that we conduct ourselves becomingly and respectfully in God's presence. While we may give expressions to our emotions when we pray, like Hannah, the mother of Samuel did (1Sam.1:12 16), our emotional expressions should neither be aggressive nor disrespectful. Stamping of our feet, hitting on desks and tables, snapping of fingers, clapping of hands and uttering revengeful statements directed at perceived enemies, which in itself negates the express demand of Jesus Christ that we pray for those who persecute us (Mt.5:44) are negative unacceptable forms of emotional expressions during prayer. Come to think of it, when we address authorities here on earth, like when we are in the presence of the state governor, the local government chairman, the Bishop or even the priest, we conduct ourselves becomingly and tame our emotions so as not to appear disrespectful. Must we then let ourselves lose emotionally in the presence of God?

At this juncture, let us leave further discussion to next edition where we shall look into issues like; can we change the course of events through prayer? Can we alter God's will and receive blessings that otherwise were not ours by praying? Can we put off some evil occurrences by specifically imploring God to save us from them by prayer? These are some burning issues with regard to prayer that demands some attention. Till then, have a happy month!!!