John 4:32-34 NLT

But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”

If the first principle in the Oratory is walking God’s way, the second is closely aligned. This encourages each of us to journey deeper into the heart of God in prayer, so vital and important. Yet each of us has discovered prayer is not as simple as it first appears. So easily we slip from the habit of seeking God. Our approach becomes mechanistic and we grow stale. We wonder if we are really touching the hem of Jesus’ garment or simply lost in a crowd of fellow seekers. We easily lose heart and prayer becomes sporadic and lifeless.

Many people visit the Oratory and talk of their search for effective prayer. We can only ever signpost the way to God’s heart, for prayer is a unique journey of discovery for each one of us. I agreed some years ago to accompany God on a journey into contemplative prayer. Along that path I discovered that my Myers-Briggs profile leant itself to contemplation, to centring prayer and [itals]Lectio Divina[end itals]. My learning is that each of us are wired to engage God through a particular lens that meets us within our unique personality. This personality is handcrafted by God.

The remarkable fact remains that God has chosen to make himself known to each of us. The challenge is in persevering in prayer to journey closer to God. The initial hurdle is remaining faithful to God’s invitation to pray, maintaining focus and confidence that prayer is essential, regardless of how far we can measure its effect upon life around us. Prayer is primarily the way in which my intimate relationship develops in Christ.

QUESTION: How important is prayer to you?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you are known and not hidden. Thank you that through Christ I can know that you hear my prayers.