From Unceasing Thinking to Unceasing Prayer
Our minds are always active. We analyze, reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not a moment during the day or night when we are not thinking. You might say our thinking is “unceasing”. Sometimes we wish that we could stop thinking for a while; that would save us from many worries, guilt feelings, and fears.
Our ability to think is our greatest gift, but it is also the source of our greatest pain. Do we have to become victims of our unceasing thoughts?
No, we can convert our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer by making our inner monologue into a continuing dialogue with our God, who is the source of all love. Let’s break out of our isolation and realize that Someone who dwells in the center of our beings wants to listen with love to all that occupies and preoccupies our minds.
—Henri J. M. Nouwen
Bread for the Journey
When Jesus invites us, ‘Come unto me, all you who are heavy burdened’ He has what occupies our minds in view. What burdens you? What’s on your mind? Those things that cheer you, those things that concern you, things that trouble you, all of it, the whole list, it’s as if Jesus invites us, ‘Let’s hear it!’ Something as heavy as awaiting a worrisome diagnosis; something as minor as remembering eggs at the grocery store; all of it occupies our minds. And if it is occupying our thoughts, why not bring those things into prayer? Why not confer with the Lord about your concerns for the diagnosis? Why not confer over the need of eggs to complete a meal? Your mind is cluttered. It’s fine. Come. His call is to drop the pretense. Got a load on your mind? You are fully welcome to bring your burdens before Him. He promises rest. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics