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Friday, September 27, 2013

What are you looking for?


 Jesus was and is famous for asking important questions. Here is a suggestion for using one of the questions that Jesus asks for prayer - for discovering your heart's deepest desire.
 I am adapting this from the book I spoke about yesterday, 50 Ways of Praying by Teresa A. Blythe. She suggests you read the following passage slowly: "The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God! The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, 'What are you looking for?'"John 1:35-38
Read the passage again, slowly. Allow two minutes of silence.
If you are ready to talk to Jesus, just go ahead.
If nothing seems to come to mind, consider what you might be looking for today. What are you longing for? Spend about ten minutes in silence just thinking about this and then try to write an answer to the question Jesus is asking you.
Maybe you still have something to say to Jesus or just listen to what Jesus might be saying to you.
You can end your prayer by reflecting how you felt during it.

Note: this is the first question Jesus asks in John's Gospel. Later He will change the question to "who" instead of what when He asks Mary Magdalene "Who are you looking for?" But this could be another prayer period and you would be having another conversation with Jesus.
Remember, Teresa of Avila said prayer was just an intimate conversation with one who loves us. Jesus is always waiting for us and is a good listener.

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