The Purpose and Goal of Prayer - Be Still and Know that I am God: Part Two - Matthew Kelly
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- The Biggest Obstacle to Prayer
The Purpose and Goal of Prayer - Be Still and Know that I am God: Part Two - Matthew Kelly
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Video Transcript:
“The goal and purpose of prayer is union with God. The great saints and mystics of every age spoke of the ecstasy they experience when they were in this state of connection with God. They described it as being like no other joy this life has to offer.
But most people never experience the mystical ecstasy of prayer. Why do you think that is? Do you think those mystics and saints were God’s favorites? I don’t. Do you believe that they had those experiences because they were better people? It has always been taught that those experiences were freely given by God and not the result of some merit that some people earn and others don’t. Do you believe that you could experience the ecstasy of prayer? I do. I believe you can, and I believe God wants you to experience the ecstasy of prayer.
You are a human being… delicate composition and body and soul, carefully linked by the will and the intellect. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” And we believe that the Holy Spirit resides within us.
Your soul is very still. Your conscious mind is always and constantly being distracted. The first thing we need to do when we come to prayer is to allow the conscious mind to settle, to become still, to rest.
Now imagine that this hand represents the soul. The soul is always very still, like the deepest parts of the ocean, it is astoundingly still even in the midst of our frantic and frenetic lives.
Next, imagine this other hand represents the conscious mind. Always being distracted.
The first challenge when we come to prayer is to still the mind. To slow down, calm down, be still and quiet. This is what makes union with God possible and the ecstasy of prayer possible.
Most people don’t have a chance, because we pray how we live.
“Listen us God, your servant is speaking… I want this and this and this, and why did you let that happen, and if you do that again I’m never coming to church again. Have a good day God.”
When we pray like that, has our mind slowed down? Absolutely not. In fact there is a chance it has become even more distracted than at many times during our days.
This is why people stop praying. Because they have never really prayed. They have never experienced the joy and the peace and the ecstasy of prayer. They pray like they live - frenetically and frantically - and they pray that way for a year, two years, a decade or two, and then they stop praying and spend the rest of their lives believing that prayer doesn’t work, etc. But tragically, they have never experienced the gifts of prayer.
It’s time to start praying differently. Time to start living how we pray.
This allows us to become aware of God’s presence… he doesn’t show up when we are still. The passage doesn’t say, be still and God will show up. He is always and already present, but we are unaware of his presence, and unaware of most of the ways he makes himself present in our lives. The stillness and the quiet allows us to become aware of his powerful presence within us, in the world, in history, etc.
Let me repeat what I said in Part One of this series…
It is incredibly difficult just to be still. But I firmly believe that if we will sit still enough and quiet enough for long enough God will reveal himself to us in amazing ways. But I don’t want you to take my word for it, I want you to try it. Put it to the test.
Find a quiet place and a chair that is comfortable, but not a comfy chair that you are going to sink into. Sit still, perfectly still, and quiet, for as long as you can… and see what happens!”
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AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Spot on. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Yes, I agree with Freud. I have a pink ribbon on my ankle l. My tattoo came from getting breast cancer at a young age. To celebrate 20 years cancer free, I decided to get a tattoo to commemorate the journey.
Thanks for sharing.
Very welcome, thanks for watching!
Very wise man. God sent.
I'm glad the message is resonating with you, Marsha.
@@MatthewKellyAuthor oh my gosh. I’m awestruck you answered me. Thank you 🙏
Challenge accepted 😊🙏😊
I watched you in a RUclips video two years. It was two parts merged together. You were much younger, but you used the same model of your hands and our soul and mind. Those words spoke volumes to me. This was back when we were first in lockdown due to Covid, so I found myself with extra time on my hands. I watched and rewatched the videos (and others) and then started devouring your books. Your mission has changed my life.
The second part of the video speaks about DaVinci and his painting of the last supper. I have never shared a video more than this one. The link was disabled last summer and I am thanking God that I found this one today. Thank you Matthew Kelly. You may not even know the profound impact you have had in my spiritual life. My heart yearns to know my God more and more each day. Thank you.
The video is back up. The link may just be different
Amen!!
“Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” St. Augustine. You are so right, Matthew. Until we allow God into our rest, we cannot find the union with Him in His Peace. God Bless. 🙏
this has been what i️ have been looking for . i️ haven't been able to sleep and i've been praying for the Lord to give me rest and peace . my heart yearns for him . thank you.
This has become a big struggle since me and my husband have retired and are home together. I use to have so much more quiet time being alone. Now I search for those moments. Some days work better than others. I'm working on it.
Thank you!! ❤ prayer all day walking with the Lord changes everything!
Being a stay at home mom with little ones, it's hard to find quiet time for prayer. But when I do, it's like a breath of fresh air and a peace inside that helps me become the "best version of myself" for myself, my husband, and my kids.
Thank you
Thank you for the captions
Thank you!
Thank you for this wisdom Matthew
You're very welcome.
Thank you!!
I love that Psalm passage. I experienced a retreat once where it was the source of the reflection. As the reflection continued the meditation eliminated one word from the quote from "Be Still and Know that I am God." to "Be still and Know that I AM" etc. all the way to simply "Be." It seems to me that if God identified Himself as I AM WHO I AM, that He simply is, then we are most like Him when we simply BE. Isn't that what he described as the 'better part" in the Martha and Mary story. I can't speak for all men, but I think it is most difficult, because we are raised to be doers. But if you've ever watch the comfortable ease of a couple who have been in love long enough to simply be in each others presence, then you have to believe it is something that is essential to any relationship. Yet its something I still struggle with.
"People stop praying because they've never really prayed." Wow. Another powerful message, Matthew.
I'm going to try slowing down with my prayers tomorrow instead of flying through them. Thanks for the inspiration
," be still and know". Wait for God to still you.
God will help to still us, for sure, yet we must still open ourselves up to this and take the first step.
I think it very interesting that SILENT & LISTEN-- have the same letters!🕊️🙏✝️ This is exactly what my Soul has been yearning to learn!...How to hear God's voice in His Silent Presence♥️ I just ordered the book, "The Power of Silence" by Cardinal Sarah. I'm excited to read it! Thank you Matthew for for this Beautiful reflection!! The Holy Spirit is definitely speaking through you! May God Bless You Always!
Love "The Prayer Process"- They make such a difference when one prays. I have changed my praying to The Prayer Process. It allows me to open up freely and listen for God's response.
I have often experienced more anxiety during prayer in the morning. Your addressing this side effect of the brain that won't shut off, even when I ask God to shut it off, is very helpful. I need to let God speak and let go of trying to figure out my unrest by thinking! Thank you.
This is so true. The difference in my prayer when I can turn off the clock, quiet my mind and focus on one aspect of the beauty of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and/or our Blessed Mother as compared to when there are outside noises and my brain is running like a hamster on a squeaky wheel are remarkable. It makes me crave quiet and sitting with my heart wrapped around the Lord. Thank you for your messages.
Oh wow dear Matthew 🙏 the visual of the two hands is the most effective way of explaining this soul-conscious mind parts in us.
Hey! I had no idea our soul is so still. Beautiful!! 🙌🏻
It's powerful imagery. I pray that it serves you and helps you deepen your prayer experience!
@@MatthewKellyAuthor ❤️🥰❤️ thank you dear brother in Christ. I look forward to the day we can meet! 😀 probably in heaven. 😊🥰🙏
I love this description! It really helped me to understand, thank you!
Thanks to your card of prayer I have found this type of prayer. Its such a place of peace that I now crave. Thank you Matthew Kelly for being there servant you are.
Amen.
Beautiful 🌹
Thank you Matthew 🌹🌹🌹
I find that taking a few deep breaths puts one in a calm state to talk with God.
Your message is in conjunction with the sermon our priest had today 03/13/22 This double whammy has really got me thinking about my prayer life.
This is 💯 spot on the feeling that I get in the distracted state BUT.. I am determined to find stillness & keep doing it to because it is 💯 necessary for mind, body, & wellness of my spirit & soul!!
So true Matthew. Thank you !! 🙏
Amazing wisdom on prayer Matthew. Thank you for the explanation of slowing down our frenetic lives to be in prayer with our loving and merciful Lord.
I thought it’s the spirit in our core that is still, and our soul, which is composed of the memory,will and intellect (some say the emotions as well), is restless and needs to calm, so that the soul can be at peace. As the bible says “Be still my soul in the presence of the Lord.” Psalm 46:10
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
The verse in my New American Bible-The Catholic Bible is Psalm 46:11
I think it appears more than once but let me check
Is it odd that I can never "pray" at church? There is so much noise; too many talking; too much motion that I can never pray at church.
The Lord is not an ATM
Do not have a tattoo. Don’t agree with Freud.