What I Mean When I Say I’m Praying

I’m definitely not ‘talking’ to God.

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

There is a sense in which I am communicating with God when I pray. But this sense is not equatable to a spoken-word conversation.

No words are spoken. But there’s still communication. Communication without words.

What does this mean?

You have probably had plenty of experience in non-verbal communication, you just weren’t consciously aware of it at the time.

That time when you were convinced that your partner was angry at you because you forgot to put out the trash, she was telling you that she wished you had remembered to keep your promise, she was also telling you that she wants you to say sorry and promise that you’ll not make the same mistake again.

She said all that and not one word was spoken. You just felt it. Her emotions spoke a thousand words that language couldn’t muster.

Communication without words.

When I pray I use my feelings to speak.

With my feelings, I ask for help and guidance.

This is easier said than done.

Sometimes I will think I’m using my feelings when really I’m using my interior monologue.