Blog Post #4: Prayer

1. What are new things that you learned about prayer from this unit? Be specific.

Throughout this unit, I learned a lot about prayer and the different ways to pray. First of all, their is not a single way to pray, but many options. Silent prayer, lectio divina, written prayer, recited prayer, and meditation are all ways of praying. Prior to this unit, I did not realize prayer could be done in a casual way. Now I understand, any person can use any available time to pray for the people for the people who they love/who need prayers. In addition, prayer can benefit everyone, even people who are at the top of their religion. Jesus made time in his life to pray, he needed prayer to be courageous and gain strength to go through his daily life. I also learned the steps to prayer, ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication). This shows that prayer can benefit any person. Overall, I learned how prayer can be done in any situation, and how it has helped many people.

2. Can you see yourself implementing any new prayer practices?

I have begun implementing prayer into my life with the 21-day gratitude challenge. Not only do I state something I’m grateful for at this time, but I think of the people who need love and support. This is my way of stating my intentions. Intentions are something I would like to make more time in my life to acknowledge. From now on, I would like to implement prayer into my daily life more often. After taking a moment to state something I am grateful for, I will partake in 60 seconds of meditation. This will allow me to pray for everything in the world, and reflect on my day. I think implementing this prayer practice in my life will allow me to expand my gratitude for the world around me.

3. What were the main messages you got from the movie The Case for Christ?

From the movie, I was able to grasp the importance religion holds to some people. Religion gave Leslie support in times of need, just as it gives ordinary people support in hard times. Not only this but in the movie Lee challenged aspects of Catholicism. Thus showing, people challenge aspects of religion in daily life, it is not certain for everyone. People want proof for ideas in order to believe in them, yet faith may never be provable, which is a main message in the movie. Faith is something that one must take a chance to believe in. Differing opinions on this can break apart relationships, such as the relationship between Leslie and Lee. No matter the ideas proven or unproven about faith, people will have distinct opinions about what they believe in.

4. What new things did you take away about yourself from this unit, perhaps from Lectio Divina, the Gratitude class, the meditation, or the movie?

Throughout this unit, I was able to do a lot of self-reflecting. There is so much in my life to be grateful for. Through the “50 things I’m grateful for” activity I was able to see all the things/people I have in my life that mean so much to me. In addition, the meditation period allowed more time for reflection of how lucky I am to live the life I have. I’ve grown up in an amazing family and have always been surrounded by friends who can make me laugh. Overall, this unit allowed me to look back on my life and realize how lucky I am.

Multimedia Source:

This picture is how I am growing to feel every day. With the 21 day grateful challenge I am able to realize that today, and everyday, I have something to be grateful for.

Source: Elder, Cindi. “Grateful Signs!” Pinterest, 23 Feb. 2017, www.pinterest.com/pin/140807925830975633/.