THINKING ABOUT PRAYER

I have been thinking about prayer and helplessness.
Here are two quotations from writers who have helped me over the years.
I met the writings of O.Hallesby when I was at University in 1955.Forty years later I encountered the poems of Uniting Church minister,Ross Kingham.

UNKNOWING

Not knowing much about God
helps praying.

With the head God-words full
one is fooled
into thinking one is sated,
holy,
while the heart is shrivelled,
unloved,
neglected.

You need not know too much
of God
or think to have such knowledge,
to pray.

Ross Kingham in Images of the Soul, unpublished, 1992


As far as I can see,prayer has been ordained only for the helpless.....
I know very well that we offer many and beautiful prayers, both privately and publicly,without helplessness as the impelling power. But I am not at all positive that this is prayer. Prayer and helplessnesss are inseparable. Only he who is helpless can truly pray.

O. Hallesby in Prayer IVF Press 1948