THOUGHTS ON INWARD PRAYER AND WORSHIP

THOUGHTS ON INWARD PRAYER 

AND WORSHIP

By Dwight Cunkle

From the writings of Thomas Kelly, born a Quaker, in 1893. He was educated at Harvard, and wanted to "make his life a miracle." But the strain and striving broke him. In that he learned to order mental life on two levels at the same time - inward prayer and worship, while working and relating     outwardly.

I have found that my wife is much better at this kind of     prayer without ceasing-going about her many duties all day while having prayer continue. As we seek God and find him try these steps from Kelly's writings:

1. Inwardly, quietly repeat a phrase or simple prayer such as, "Lord, Jesus, have mercy on me a sinner." Or "The Lord is my Shepherd." Or "One Spirit"".

2. Let inward prayer be your last act before sleep and first upon waking.

3. Practice continually turning and centering in God in    worship and surrender and listening.

4. Order mentally both gently inwardly in devotion while   outwardly at work, play and relationship. Gradually the two become more one than just "a prayer time" verses my other responsibilities and relationships.

5. Allow a longing for God God to draw you: "presence in the midst," Shekinah of the soul," "a subterranean sanctuary of the soul,"colonies of heaven," "continuously at home in him," able to say 'No' or 'Yes' with equal confidence to thoughts and feelings and choices as they come before us because we are inwardly at rest in abandonment to his will and in union with him.

You shall seek me with your whole heart and you shall find me Jer 29:14

Dwight