This week’s reading for my prayer class had to do with sacramental prayer. Foster deals with arguments against Sacramental Prayer by talking them through. Here’s the first argument normally made…
One concern has to do with the sameness of set prayers and liturgies… “Oh, you’re just going through the motions. It’s all rote. Your not really thinking about what you’re praying.”
The allegation is basically accurate, but far from being a drawback, I see it as primarily an asset. One of the great values of liturgical prayer is found precisely in our not having to think…. When I recite the words of the Morning Prayer – “O God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me” – I do not have to concern myself with how to express my need. Rather, I am free to enter into the depth of my need as well as the realty that God’s resources are deeper still.
I have a desire to pray more liturgical prayers. About a year ago I heard Peter Scazaro talk about “the daily office,” which is basically the idea of reading a portion of scripture and prayer at set times throughout the day along with others in your congregation. The idea that my closest brothers and sisters in Christ would be working through these things together brings such unity. I know Scot McKnight has a book on this and there are multiple prayer books available that I would like to get to pray more like this.
Do any of you pray in this way? If so what kind of impact does it make on your prayer life?
