Lett- The Phenomenology of Prayer- Chapter 1

In this reading, The act of kenosis within prayer is described as the proper way to pray and the way for those those to bring themselves before God. Kenosis is "emptying ones self" or decentering ones self when it comes to the time of prayer. Prayer is a divine moment between God and us, our full devoted attention should be given to him in reverence. This is what makes prayer so intimate. In a time where distractions are all around us, prayer is a moment where we put those distractions to the side and focus on a higher deity and pour our hearts out to Him. There is a quote from this chapter that says "It is impossible to pray to a personal God- that is, love a personal God- and remain indifferent to your suffering brethren. It is impossible. Anyone who prays without suffering for his brothers is praying to a pole, a shadow, not to the living God. Because if you pray to the living God, you who are living, He, the Living One, sends you to your living brothers." This quote is powerful to me because it signifies how God directs us in life and the opportunity for him to show us what is in store is right before our eyes if we pray to him. It all goes back to learning how to pray with a decentralized approach

-Trevor Lett
12/03/2018

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