I resonate with it not being one number all the time but I genuinely think the number is most consistently at a 5 or lower. I don’t spend much time listening. I am constantly “checking in” throughout the day, processing, and reaching for Him.
You’re not alone, Tawni. Truthfully, in modern day Protestantism, we aren’t really taught to listen as an expression of prayer. So this is a new skill for most of us who came up in this tradition.
My number for my prayer satisfaction would not be only one number. There are times when my prayer experience would be a 9 and sometimes a 3. It seems like there are times when I get drawn in deeper into listening what the Spirit is saying. I can’t really tie these times to anything that I have or have not done in preparation or in speaking while praying. The only thing that I see consistently is that the depth of my of my prayer experience is tied to listening more than speaking, yet as the experience continues it seems like when Holy Spirits speaks I may be invited to speak with Him in a dialogue. That’s when I experience an inner closeness that is indescribable!
I have a paragraph I cut from post for next week, but here's what it said:
"No relationship is forged by a single conversation. It’s the collection and accumulation of open and honest conversations over a lifetime that strengthen and sustain any relationship, including our relationship with God. So we need to let go of the expectation that prayer should make us feel a particular way, or experience something specific. Our primary purpose is always to go a little deeper with God each day."
That's what I love about your comment. Your goal isn't an "otherworldly" experience everyday. You're goal is to be with Him meaningfully each day.
I resonate with it not being one number all the time but I genuinely think the number is most consistently at a 5 or lower. I don’t spend much time listening. I am constantly “checking in” throughout the day, processing, and reaching for Him.
You’re not alone, Tawni. Truthfully, in modern day Protestantism, we aren’t really taught to listen as an expression of prayer. So this is a new skill for most of us who came up in this tradition.
My number for my prayer satisfaction would not be only one number. There are times when my prayer experience would be a 9 and sometimes a 3. It seems like there are times when I get drawn in deeper into listening what the Spirit is saying. I can’t really tie these times to anything that I have or have not done in preparation or in speaking while praying. The only thing that I see consistently is that the depth of my of my prayer experience is tied to listening more than speaking, yet as the experience continues it seems like when Holy Spirits speaks I may be invited to speak with Him in a dialogue. That’s when I experience an inner closeness that is indescribable!
I have a paragraph I cut from post for next week, but here's what it said:
"No relationship is forged by a single conversation. It’s the collection and accumulation of open and honest conversations over a lifetime that strengthen and sustain any relationship, including our relationship with God. So we need to let go of the expectation that prayer should make us feel a particular way, or experience something specific. Our primary purpose is always to go a little deeper with God each day."
That's what I love about your comment. Your goal isn't an "otherworldly" experience everyday. You're goal is to be with Him meaningfully each day.
Amen