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In this exercise, practice the Prayer of Consideration once again.
Seek to find and write down at least one and preferably two or three
of every type of insight (Principle, Attachment, Interior, and Detachment).
Objective: Intimate knowledge of Christ that I might be with him,
become like him, and live for him. Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11
First point: After baptism, Jesus
went into the desert where he fasted for 40 days and nights.
Second point: The three temptations
of the enemy.
Third point: Jesus answered each temptation
with Scripture.
Your Response:
Begin with Preparatory Prayer, asking for God's help to achieve
the objective of this prayer exercise. A stanza from a familiar
hymn can sometimes be a helpful aide to prayer. Take, for example
the fourth stanza from Break Thou the Bread of Life: "O send
They Spirit, Lord, now unto me, that he may touch my eyes and make
me see; show me the truth concealed within thy word, for in thy
book revealed I see thee, Lord. Amen."
Use the Prayer of Consideration in this meditation. Ask the Lord
to help you come up with Principle Insights (P). They answer the
question: "Is there a universal spiritual truth being expressed
in this passage?" During most of this prayer period, your concentration
will probably be on the second point (the three temptation of the
enemy).
If you identify several Principle Insights, Use the Prayer of Petition
to ask the Lord to lead you to the insight most relevant for you.
Take time to think about the insight, weighing the pros and cons
of it, relating it to your conduct and activities.
Consider which insight best enables you to achieve the objective
of the prayer exercise ("intimate knowledge of Christ").
Is it the same as the one chosen in the previous step? Does the
Lord want you to change to the one that supports the objective or
does he want you to stick with the one that satisfies your current
needs/ Only you can answer. Remember he leads through peace. In
which choice do you sense more of the Lord's peace/ Don't be troubled
if you aren't certain. You will develop sensitivity as you gain
experience.
You will find so much in this passage that could easily lead you
to Attachment Insights (A), Interior Insights (I), or Detachment
Insights. If you are led to consider any of these, feel free to
go with them.
Assuming that you have been led to an insight that has given you
a better understanding of Christ and has stimulated a genuine love
for him and a desire to serve him, express that love in the Prayer
of Adoration. Then, commune with the Lord by gratefully resting
in his presence for a few minutes in the Prayer of Rest. As you
attempt to quiet yourself, do not be surprised or agitated if you
find yourself confronted with various distractions. Be gentle with
yourself and return to whichever insight was most significant for
you. Then release that insight and rest in the Lord's presence.
Following the Prayer of Rest, conclude your prayer exercise by thanking
the Lord for giving you intimate knowledge of himself and for communing
with you. Make a point of offering yourself in service for Christ.
Review your prayer period by considering these questions:
- Were you able to experience the Lord's presence at a deeper level
during your prayer of Rest?
- Did you go beyond being informed of god's will to being energized
to do it?
Don't be discouraged if you cannot answer all these questions affirmatively.
Use the Prayer of Petition to ask the Lord to help you. He will.
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