Reciting Prayers

Anyone who knows me even remotely knows that I have little patience for formulaic Christianity. However, there are some things that I believe are good disciplines for me in my life because they help my relationship with the Lord. They are likely not things that would work for everyone, which is why they aren't a formula for the way to do Christianity. However, I find that I do Christianity a whole lot better with certain disciplines. One, which I have talked about before, is being involved in a 12-Step program and living out the twelve steps in my daily life. For me, the twelve step concept works.

Something else that works for me is the recitation of prayers. In fundamentalism it was usually considered wrong to recite prayers and we were told that it was "vain repetition" which the Bible says not to do. But I've come to realize that a heartfelt prayer, even if it is one prayed every day, is hardly a "vain" repetition. It's not repetition that God is against, he's against vain repetition, and the two are very different. In fact, as I've been doing an intense study of worship these last ten weeks for college, I've wanted to get together with other believers for corporate prayer and reciting of creeds, but that hasn't happened yet. Maybe I should make it happen. 

I have some great moments of worship with other believers in twelve step programs when we all pray the serenity prayer together. I find that I am a lot more forgiving when I pray the Lord's prayer daily, because reciting the words "forgive me for my sins, just as I have forgiven those who sinned against me" requires me to forgive every time I pray it, if it is to be an honest prayer. 

Prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace!

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grand that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

It is in dying that we are born

To eternal life.