Note: This post is part two of a four-post series on Spiritual Relaxation. Use the links below to read the other posts:
– Eat Dessert First
– Adding Meditation
– Role of a Journal
In my post on relaxation from last week, I wrote about why relaxing first is so important. By relaxing, I mean really letting go and trusting God—sort of divine trust fall . This post is the first of three where I talk about tools and techniques I use to achieve this relaxation or trust.
For me, prayer is a spiritual practice that leads to relaxation by deepening my trust in God. This trust is what allows me to relax and let go of the worries and anxieties that can fill our lives.
I have learned that the way I used to pray is just not enough for me, for where I want to go, and what I need to do. I need a stronger, closer connection to God if I am going to move past the obstacles that seem to hold me back.
A normal prayer for me in past years would have been a bit rushed, knowing that there was a lot to get done to be ready to get to work and drop my daughters at their school. I would not have felt like I had time to really go into detail about what was really on my mind, my deeper worries and desires—the ones that take me awhile to understand myself.
A normal prayer for me in past years would have been a bit rushed, knowing that there was a lot to get done to be ready to get to work and drop my daughters at their school.
So, on an average morning I would not go that deep. Instead I would do my best to express my needs and to remember things I was feeling grateful for. I must admit that often, my gratitude in prayer was rushed as well. But even though I expressed gratitude in my prayers, hurrying caused me to miss the feeling of gratitude that wells up in my heart when I take time to really ponder my blessings and recognize just how merciful and kind Heaven Father is. Often, my most grateful moments come when I ponder my struggles and I am still enough to recognize the Lord’s blessings in my trials. Then I see His preparations for future blessings. This type of gratitude doesn’t come in a rush.
Actually, I didn’t realize how starved I was for more time with God until I just started taking it. I was shocked at how I felt when I would take as much time as I needed with God to get out my thoughts, feelings, worries, desires, all of it. It wasn’t like I hadn’t done this before. It was just that longer, more in-depth prayers had been an experience that happened two or three times a year. The first time I prayed three days in a row and took all the time I needed, I realized what I had been missing—a closer connection to God that had been there waiting for me all along.
Many of us are stressed about time or should I say the lack of it. As I don’t want this to into a chiding for poor spiritual time management, I will just say that you and I will make time for a deeper prayer practice once we experience it more regularly.
Sunday’s are a great time to experiment with a deeper prayer practice. Simply going to bed earlier on Saturday is enough to give us time early on Sunday morning. Give yourself 30-60 minutes. I know praying for an hour may seem like a lot. But I assure you that the idea of a sweet hour of prayer takes on new meaning when we find this much time regularly.
More than a year ago I wrote an article that contains more of what I’ve learned about prayer. If you’re interested, it is titled “Confession of a Mormon Bishop.”
Real relaxation comes to me as I commune with God, as I give myself enough time to talk with Him, counsel with Him, share everything in my life with Him.