“Christian life needs prayer; the integration of faith and life.” Bernard Haring, Prayer: the Integration of Faith and Life, p. 1.
I came across this in my prayer time this morning, and it simply stopped me cold. Prayer is the integration of faith and life…. Of course! What could be more obvious? If my life is the day-to-day business of living – answering the phone, talking with co-workers, reading, writing, running errands, making and eating meals, planning future events, etc. and etc., then I surely do need something to keep all that busyness connected to God. Nothing does that like prayer.
Prayer is my reminder of the presence of God. You really are here. You really do care about how I answer the phone and talk with my co-workers. You know how I plan events and what I think as I’m running errands. You truly are in the midst of it all. I know that – I do know that. But often I am not aware of it. It isn’t that I forget; sometimes I simply am not aware that You are there with me. I need a bridge – a network – connective tissue that will bind all the mundane events of my day to your holy Presence. Prayer is that tissue, in all its forms – contemplation and the hurried “thank You’s” as I go about the work of living; conversation with You as I drive from place to place; reading the Psalms in my Morning Prayer; joyfully praising You as I watch the sun set or spot the first robin on my lawn; rending my heart to your listening as I grieve. Prayer is the integration of my faith and my life. Thank you, Holy God!