One of the areas where this restlessness becomes manifest is in the desire for deeper personal prayer - indeed, for a prayer-life.
Much light has been shed on various forms of prayer: meditation, charismatic prayer, Oriental prayer attitudes, the Jesus Prayer, Prayer of the Heart, contemplative prayer, etc. Each of these approaches to praying has its own distinguishing characteristics. For example, meditation employs extensively the imagination, intellect, emotions in discoursing about God; whereas Prayer of the Heart stresses non verbal, affective communion with God abiding in the depths of one's being.
Yet, underlying all forms of authentic prayer is a loving encounter with God in faith. All prayer - indeed life itself - necessarily tends towards loving communion with Father, Son and Spirit. No matter how much we know about God: his goodness, his forgiveness, his mercy, his justice, we experience him directly and immediately only in love. The real God infinitely transcends all activity, all manner of representation, all feeling. God communes most intimately with us by love, and it is in love that we most truly commune with him. Praying is ultimately "remaining loving one's Beloved."
This accent on love does not exclude the use of the intellect, symbols or emotions in prayer. But such activity is nevertheless epitomized and transcended in the utter simplicity and intimacy of direct love.
Nemeck & Coombs
Contemplation
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