Looking up the word prayer in the dictionary or googling it leads to a series of explanations that includes asking, petitioning, thanking or begging a divine power for special favors or overcoming specific difficulties we are experiencing. These definitions come down to us from the European roots of our English language and the theology, doctrine and beliefs of church fathers that put together their interpretation of what was said by our Master Teacher, Jesus the Christ.
Unfortunately, as far as we know, these church fathers did not have access to awareness of the Aramaic language that Jesus spoke during his time on earth and the nuances, metaphors, and idioms of that language. Since we are followers of Jesus the Christ, I believe it becomes important for us to follow His examples and teachings as He spoke them at the time.
The word for prayer in the Aramaic language that was used in the Lord’s Prayer, Mt. 6:9, is translated as “setting a trap.” Psalm 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.” Jesus tells us in Mt. 6:6 “…when you pray, enter into your inner chamber and lock the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Putting these things together, it appears that prayer is setting time aside to make a direct connection with the Divine, in a quiet place away from the distractions and turmoil of everyday life and allowing the Presence of Divinity to quietly show up in our inner chamber.
It is interesting how this simple method of true prayer shows up in many of the world religions as meditation, centering prayer, and many other forms of making this quiet, contemplative connection with Divinity that can transform our world.
