Helmer Phenomenology of Prayer Chapter 1

Everyone has their different ways of praying and their different reasons for doing so. In the chapter, it begins with the three year old boy who sees a woman praying and asking God for something so he does the same and asks him for gelato. Even though that isn't really how it works, the idea is still the same. We must learn to pray through a decentered self. There are five different elements of prayer, which are praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition, and intercession. Many people find it easy to be able to do about four out of those five elements when praying, but usually people have trouble with the element of praise. I can account for those people and say I see myself having the same issue at times. Growing up in a family that wasn't very religious makes it hard sometimes to know what the right things to do are when it comes to praying and God. Through this class in our readings and discussions, it has helped me to learn that we need to pray through a decentered self, and use kenosis to truly empty everything in our minds and bodies. Once getting through kenosis, we are able to speak our true mind to God and use the language to let everything out to God. We are able to make a connection with him and although he already knows everything going on in your life, as he is the creator and controller over all life on Earth, we are now able to truly use each of the five elements when praying. Using these elements helps us to realize each of the true gifts God has placed in front of us, and we are able to praise him for everything he has done. God has provided us with the opportunity to connect with him through prayer, which, once you figure out the right way to pray and connect with him, it is the most magical and relieving feeling in the world. We need to be able to use kenosis and the elements to break through our bodies and let God take control over everything, and we can do this through prayer.

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