Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours
Mark 11:24

"No book, no sermon, no spiritual adviser is of final avail for sharpening our human senses to the reality and presence of God. Frankly, while these can give us valuable hints for travel, in the end we walk a private road whose destination is private. Just as we are all biologically unique, we must all embrace our unique aspect of God. The search is highly personal - basically lonely." Will R. Matthews, from an article in The Lutheran, February 2007.

I find using prayer mantras, i.e., one-pointed attention devices such as a special prayer, poem, or hymn, extremly helpful while walking my private road. I find these mantras help me center myself.

My prayer mantras change over time. There is no one mantra that gets used forever. I find that when the time to use a different one arrives, I recognize that I have subconsciously moved on to using a new prayer mantra. No planning is, or was, required, I simply find I am no longer using that mantra and that another has taken its place. The period of time I use for each prayer mantra varies.

Currently, one of my prayer mantras occurs when I receive communion. After receiving the elements, I pray, "convert this bread and wine into energy that will let your presence shine forth in my life. Amen"

I suspect many of you also use one or more prayer mantras to center your religious traveling experience. If not, give it a try. Like me, you may find it a real help as you travel your spiritual road.

As I travel, I utilize an overriding mantra a prayer written by Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher. I travel "behaving with no certainty that God is present in all things, hoping that he is. To live as if I were created to make a unique contribution to His world."

Thank you Lord for listening to my prayers.
Amen

Contributed by Nancy
Sunday January 25, 2009
Liturgical Year B Week 9
Sunday Gospel Reading:
Third Sunday after the Epiphany