MM#261--Prayer = Flourishing

Welcome to the Theory to Action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time, to help you take action immediately and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now here's your host, David Kaiser.

Hello, I am David, and welcome back to another Mojo Minute and to another fundamental flourishing that we have been talking about this past week. Our guide for today's nugget of wisdom is coming to us from Matthew Leonard. He is the author of Prayer Works, which is a book that we covered way back in Mojo Minute 1993, so be sure to check that out. But, in keeping with our custom, let's go to our first polka. If you're anything like me, it's more likely you are asking for the wrong thing instead of not enough. He's talking about prayer. That's what conforming our will to God's will, is so important. But sometimes in doing so we forget the bigger picture. Some people spend a lot of time trying to figure out what God wants them to do. In every little situation, they threaten, fuss and worry about spiritually unimportant matters. Oh, father in heaven, should I buy the red one or the blue one? Not only will this never get anything done, but it isn't necessary. Why, first of all, god isn't some vindictive cuss waiting to whack us upside the head when we make a wrong decision. Rather, he's our Father who loves us. Not every decision is life or death. If my son were to tell me, dad, I either want to be an astronaut or a writer, I would first thank God he didn't say a politician, amen. Then I would try to figure out how I could help him achieve his dreams within reasons, since they'll probably change more often than a chameleon on a kaleidoscope. That's what good Fathers do. If we're really trying to do his will, not only is God going to respect our decision, he's going to make it work. For quote we know that in everything, god works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. That comes to us from Romans 8, 28. So that is very good spiritual advice. If we are a Christian or a Catholic, we have to know that our Father is a good Father. He's not a vindictive God ready to whack us upside the head. And good Fathers want to respect their children's decisions within reason. And God, our Father, has given us full freedom when he created us, but he is instilled in us the natural law as well, so he knows if we're really trying to do his will or not. We can't certainly fool God. That is our first nugget of wisdom. Now some people have asked me is there any spiritual fundamentals in the flourishing life? There's just one spiritual fundamental that we human beings, universally, we need to pray. Prayer is a fundamental in flourishing. We have to pray all the time. We have to realize that we are the creature, not the Creator. We have to combine our virtue of humility with our need for a conversation with God, and that is what prayer is. In fact, if you're a Catholic, I would highly, highly recommend the daily spiritual reading from the six volumes set by Francis Fernandez. The title is in conversation with God. Like I said, there are six volumes to put out by Scepter publishers, receptor press rather, and very, very good stuff. I especially if you're a traditional Catholic. It will provide good teaching, good Orthodox teaching, for each and every day. It's been a constant companion for me over the last 20 years, almost like a good friend, and I just love those books. Now, getting back to our need for prayer and our book Prayer Works by Matthew Leonard, let's dig a little deeper on this nugget of wisdom. Going back to the book, god is always willing to write straight with our crooked lines so we can relax, especially when we're dealing with issues that aren't intrinsically good or evil. Should I take the new job? Should I buy that other car, butterfinger or Snickers? Talk to God, if necessary and make your best choice Should be Butterfinger every time. I disagree with the author. It should be Snickers every time and if you want to have the best chance of knowing what God wants, how to write with the straightest line possible from the very beginning. There's one simple rule that works every time Get close to God. It's that easy and that hard. I can yell at the top of my lungs for my kids to clean their rooms, but if they conveniently left the building with Elvis, they can't hear my voice. Our father's children should have to get close so we can hear what he's saying. If you put your relationship with God first, you'll be more tuned in to what he desires for your life. You'll be able to hear what he's saying and telling you to do, and nobody else is looking out for your interest, the way he is. Ultimately, we know prayer. We know our prayer works because of Jesus Christ. God hears us because Christ prays in us and with us. We can boldly go to the Father because we are sons in the Son, adopted children united to Christ through the sacraments. As long as we're joined to him, jesus makes our prayers work for our eternal good. Adopted sons of God, adopted children, so to speak. We've been adopted by our Lord. Imagine that, contemplate, that notion. If you have been baptized in the Christian or Catholic faith, you are an adopted Son of Almighty God. You could spend a lifetime just pondering and meditating on that very point, and that would be time well spent. Now, to further make this point on our need for prayer, let us step back and let me share that, of the 6.8 billion people in the world, 5.8 billion of them claim to practice a faith that involves prayer. Whether you are Muslim or Jewish, or Buddhist or Hindu, you have some form of prayer, some form of connecting to the divine, and to live a flourishing life, I would suggest there has to be a connection to the divine. To live a flourishing life, we can't look inwardly. In fact, we have to look outwardly. A flourishing life is a life of service. Now, as a Roman Catholic, I would suggest that Catholicism is the ideal path to the connection to the divine. It's the fullest measure of that connection. But I can't force you or coerce you. I can only suggest my faith. After all, my God didn't impose his beliefs. Jesus Christ didn't impose his beliefs on others. He proposed his beliefs. His example, his teachings, his miracles is what moved people in the first century, jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and it's what has moved people for the last 20 centuries. So, my friends, in this mojo minute, let us remember no matter where we are at in our lives, no matter whether we are poor or rich, whether we are educated or not, whether we are sick or in good health, the number one, fundamental in all flourishing and building that flourishing life is prayer. Our need to connect to the divine is of paramount concern. The world is a dark place. It's especially dark if you have no prayer in your life. Now our Lord is indeed preparing a place for our soul for all eternity. May we ask Him how we can live so as to prepare our soul for that place for all eternity. After all, that place has been described in the Good Book as this by St Paul in his first letter to Corinthians what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him. Let us always strive to love God. That love will help us to get to that place in our lives where we are flourishing. Let you and I both try to get there together.

Shall we Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this Theory to Action podcast. Be sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademycom, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast, as well as other great resources. Until next time, keep getting your mojo on.