FAITHteen | Issue #3

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What's Up With That?:
Prayer is a Two-Way Street

3 Questions to ask yourself:
1. How, why, and where do you pray?
2. Have you listened for God recently?
3. Do you find it difficult or easy to communicate with God?

Have you ever had a conversation with your teacher? Listened to a friend who needed to talk? Been involved in a serious discussion with your parents? As human beings we are always communicating with one another. What about God? When and how do you take the time to communicate with your Creator?

Give Praise - "God is Good!"

"God is good!" he shouted. "All the time," the crowd answered back.
"All the time!" he shouted. "God is good," the crowd roared in response.

I remember that enthusiastic exchange from one of the many youth jamborees I attended a few years back. And it is something our youth group still does today.

That is what praising God is all about - telling our God how wonderful He truly is. We have an awesome Creator whom we so often take for granted. Many times we wait until we are feeling down or are in need of something before we talk to God. Whatever happened to simple praise?

Don't hesitate to give glory and praise to our God. We do it all the time through song and prayer at Mass. Some Christians do it spontaneously and loudly. Others do it quietly and reservedly. Talk to our Lord and let Him know how good He is ... all the time! (Read CCC 2639)

Make a Petition - "Always say 'please'!"

This seems to be the most common and familiar form of prayer. Here you lay it all out for God. Sometimes it becomes a laundry list. Dear God: I need to pass this big exam. I need our team to win this important game. I need to be accepted to this college. Petitions can be a list of needs, but try to keep them authentic.

Instead of "What I need is…" think in terms of what others need. Prayer is a powerful force. Image the great things that can be done for others when you take the time to offer up a prayer for them. Is there someone at your school with an illness? Does someone need help fitting in? Do your friends need to be more kind to others? Pray for them.

I strongly believe in that old circular theory, "what goes around comes around." If you take the time every day to put others needs in your thoughts, I believe your life will be a little easier and more joyful. And when you are really down and struggling ask people to pray for you and have the humility to get down on your knees and pray for yourself. (Read CCC 2629)

Give Thanks - "Always say 'thank you'!"

My mother always told me that it's polite to say "please" and "thank you." In fact, it's a lesson I try to teach my children. When we talk to God, though, many of us seem to forget these basic rules of common courtesy.

Every single thing that's good in our lives is a gift from God. He created it all, and he has given us many gifts. How many days go by where I thank people for holding the door or blessing me when I sneeze, yet never stop to truly thank the Lord for my family, friends, health, and the multitude of other blessings He has heaped upon me?

After we've made our petitions and asked God for His help, we should take a minute to say "thank you". If those two words are music to our ears, how much more beautiful are the to our Father? (Read CCC 2637)

Meditate - Stop Talking and Start Listening

Meditation is a different form of prayer from the rest. With praise, petition and thanksgiving, we are talking to God and telling Him about our lives and the lives of others around us. Sometime, though, we need to hush up. We need to simply stop talking and quietly listen.

Prayerful meditation opens your mind, heart, and soul to God. It allows you moments of peace. It is a time to reconnect with yourself, with your surroundings, and with the ultimate spirit - the Holy Spirit.

So relax. Take a deep breath. Let go of all the stressors in your life. Forget about school, parents, and problems. Open yourself up to God and listen. For it is in the silence that you will truly hear the Lord. (Read CCC 2705)

Contrition - The "Prerequisite" for Prayer

The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that "we receive from him whatever we ask." Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2631)

Life Applications:
1. How, why, and where do you pray?
2. Have you listened for God recently?
3. Do you find it difficult or easy to communicate with God?

By Rod Hetherton