Carol: Chapter 5--Do You Talk to God in Your Own Words?

I'm having computer problems at home so I hope work will be slow tonight so that I can make sense of my blogging. Please bear with me!

I found the two different takes on talking to God interesting. I think that when I talk to God I realize that it is prayer, but I'm not quite sure. Meditating is hard for me but as my husband will attest, talking comes quite naturally. I find when I am in distress that I can really express myself to God, but at the same time, I am constantly asking for help. I, personally, need to become more comfortable with "true prayer" (speaking heart-to-heart with the Lord, sharing my thoughts and experiences with Him). Affective prayer, or prayer of the heart, ( as described in this chapter) is definitely an area I need to work on.

On page 31 under "A Movement of the Heart" it states that affective prayer completes the stages of growth or ordinary active prayer, building upon formal and mental prayer. We experience affective prayer when the affections or sentiments of the heart predominate in our prayer time. This paragraph also lists the four purposes of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS). The next paragraph went on to include prayerful expressions of the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. The last paragraph of this section goes on to include a prayer of resignation (this is where I believe I fit in most of the time).
This prayer is for when we are suffering and without human comfort. Joy is a special prayer sentiment and I do find myself at time praising and thanking God for different things; for example, if I'm driving and the day is georgeous, I just praise and thank God the whole time and really enjoy the moment.

In the section "Affective Prayer, Day by Day" on page 32 it states that "affective prayer is spontaneous in character, it allows us to speak to God from the heart." It goes on to say "This enables us to be more in touch during prayer with what is going on within us. We recognize more easily those feelings that have remained hidden and those issues that touch us in an unconscious way. In fact, those whose relationship with God has grown very trusting can be quite frank with Him." I am spontaneous sometimes. I am still a work in progress! I am most spontaneous when something is troubling me or when I'm really happy. I need to work on the stuff in between.

On page 33 it states "affective prayer is not only spontaneous; it's often conversational in form as well." In that same paragraph it goes on to state: "We aren't likely to hear God speak to us audibly in response to our words to Him, but we sense things in our hearts at times." This is happening more and more to me. Not too long ago, I was praying for a dear friend who had a problem. I was reading in my Bible and I had a small prayer cut out of a Church bulletin which was marking my place. The prayer seemed like an answer to her problem and I sensed that I should e-mail it to her. She was very appreciative of it and said it really helped her.

On page 34 it states "Over time, affective prayer tends to become shorter and simpler. When we know someone very well, we need fewer words to get our point across." This comment just seems to speak to me.

The last sentence really sums up what this chapter is all about. "I talk to God all day long."