A Voice of Experience

George Buttrick (1892-1980)
Excerpts from Prayer

George starts with an interesting statement about prayer "There can be no rules, certainly no binding rules but only hints."

Jesus himself is the teacher. Prayer is itself is friendship with God. Friendship is not formal but it is not formless; it has its cultivation, its behaviour, its obligation and even its disciplines; and the casual mind kills it.

I find the friendship and prayer comparison an interesting analogy. Especially where it says the casual mind kills it. In an age where anything goes in many cases  it is interesting to think that this liberty will be counterproductive if not dangerous to prayer and friendship.  Focus will bring results!

The first hint is that prayer begins with Silent self preparation. After my efforts working with silence I find it great to see that this is an area that is going to valuable with George's suggestions. Putting aside the cares of the day and focussing on God. George goes on to make an interesting statement We prepare by saying to ourselves Whatever we ask in the "nature of Christ" is granted only in our earnestness in prayer and life.

Interestingly since I been brought through on The ACTS  prayer method Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication. George's first stage is Thanksgiving,   which so resonates we with me. So much more than doing it third. This is going to bring me life! He states that we need to call to mind the joys of the journey!  He goes on to say that we should be quite specific! If  we are thankful for everything we are thankful for nothing! This so fits for me I can really get that statement. What a thankful grateful life we can lead, if we will but focus.

Prayer may next become confession. Wisely he states that over conscientiousness becomes morbid and under contentiousness becomes  indifference and decay. The wise prayer of confession always leads to the acceptance of God's pardon... God does not wish us to remember, but as a reminder of our dependence on him, for he is willing to forget anything. Therefore so should I!!

Then may follow a prayer of intercession without which the most earnest prayer will seek into selfishness. He says that this is not done as a blanket statements but genuine love sees faces not a mass. God called each of us by name each of us need to intercede the same way. He also suggest we need to pray for those who hurt us and use us. Lest I become bitter.

Lastly comes petition after all that has gone before. Because we have less to fear from a selfish mind with all the activity that that has gone before. He finally states that intervals of these four should be filled by meditation.

This set of suggestions excites me, I am going to give it a go. I have found ACTS difficult to maintain because it never felt natural. I will also intersperse " silence" as the meditation.   If you do want to give this ago, I would very interested in how it works on how it works for you. So if you can communicate on Facebook with ne. I hope we can share some dialogue.  

I must keep in focus the point of this whole exercise for a year is spiritual formation! So if this doesn't transform my spiritual practice then I have missed the point.