Prayer: From Seeker to Sought
by Keri Wyatt Kent
posted 9/21/2007
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"What prompts us to seek God, to speak and hope he hears us? Perhaps we think it is the emptiness of our lives without him, that God-shaped vacuum in our souls, our desire for meaning and significance. Okay, yes. But where does our desire for God come from? Are we seeking or responding? Do we start the conversation or does God?"
(from Listen: Finding God in the Story of Your Life)
This month, let's consider the spiritual practice of prayer. Prayer not as ritual but as a means to relationship; as conversation initiated by the Holy Spirit, in which our primary role is to listen.
In her excellent book Soul Feast, Marjorie Thompson writes: "Like the spiritual life itself, prayer is initiated by God. No matter what we think about the origin of our prayers, they are all a response to the hidden workings of the spirit within. God's desire for us ignites the spark of our desire for God."
In Listen, I add: "When I feel a desire to pray, it is God's spirit that stirs up that desire in the first place. Thank about that: God initiates and seeks you out. … God cares enough about me to initiate conversation and relationship. I am the beloved. I am not just the seeker, I am the sought. I am the object of God's affection. It's a truth that demands a response."
Of course, sometimes we say to ourselves "I really should pray," or "I really ought to pray." The guilt-inducing "should" and "ought" are dysfunctions. God gives pure desires, the desires of the Spirit—not the shame-based desires. Have you ever spent time with someone who was with you because they thought they "should" be? How fun was that for you? How do you suppose God feels when you are with him only out of obligation?
When I led a spiritual retreat on the topic of listening to God, I received this question from one of the participants: "In your book Listen, you say we should let God call us to pray. We've been used to going to God when we're ready. Explain more."
Okay, I'll explain.
It's really a matter of perspective. God, who knows all and continually searches the earth that he may strongly support those whose hearts are fully his (2 Chronicles 16:9), can stir like a gentle breeze in our souls. When we think we're about to go to God when we're ready, it's really our souls responding to divine whispers and stirrings. We respond in the context of a relationship of trust.
We can see an example of this type of love in the relationships we have with the children we love and lead. A parent or teacher, by being loving and consistent, inspires a child to desire his or her comforting presence; in times of fear or uncertainty—or during times of great joy. The relationship is built on communication and trust, so that the child cannot wait to tell us of some exciting experience or challenging situation.
In the context of this relationship, that child wants to be with this parent, teacher, or caregiver because that person has shown themselves to be trustworthy, loving, and kind.
You are the object of God's affection. In the context of that relationship, you will develop a desire to run to him.
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