How Do We Pray?Sample

Could it be that I am conversing with myself rather than with God?

Comparisons are not the best way to connect with God; they diminish compassion for ourselves and others. Engaging in inner dialogues that focus on comparison can lead us away from intimacy with Him, creating a disconnect. Such comparisons make us believe that only our perspective matters rather than acknowledging the vastness of the universe around us. We often find false security in labeling our actions as good without consulting God. While these comparisons might help us understand, they should never be used to define our worth from God's perspective.

The Pharisee defined himself through self-comparison in his internal dialogue, refusing to listen to the voice of God. How often do I find myself only comparing different versions of myself instead of hearing God's voice? During my monologue—which can swing from feelings of condemnation or shame to pride—I treat God as a mere observer of my dialogue in front of my own mirror.

Those comparisons also deny the possibility of a relationship, and without relationships, I can't hear other voices.

How often do we pray like the Pharisees and feel frustrated when we don't hear God's voice? I'm not referring to God's silence that encourages us to go deeper. Those divine pauses invite us to keep communicating with Him, urging us to seek a deeper understanding of our desires and the messages we wish to convey. In those moments, He reassures us that He will respond.

In prayers resembling the Pharisee‘s prayer, we often speak to ourselves, convincing ourselves that our actions are justified. We mistake our own voices for "the voice of God," leading us further away from Him. This justifies harmful positions that only elevate us while ignoring the true essence of our faith.

Are we aware of God's presence when we speak to Him? Do we try to justify ourselves, condone ourselves, or hide our faults by pointing out the faults of others? Those who recognize God's presence during prayer experience the liberating power of humility and the fragility of human justifications aimed at impressing God.