Hello dear friends in Christ! Please know of my daily prayers for you. I would like to share with you this week a simple, but powerful form of prayer I learned several years ago called “ARRR”. I’ve quoted some of the writings of Fr. John Horn (S.J.) underneath each section as well. He is a gifted teacher in prayer whom I once had as a spiritual director. May God bless your prayer abundantly!
Acknowledge: As you turn to Jesus in prayer, acknowledge what is going on in your thoughts, feelings and desires. Come to Jesus as you are, with all of the issues in your life and all of the day’s strain and all of your thoughts (pleasant and unpleasant). Acknowledge, as best as you can, what is going in your life, where you are at, how you feel and what your thoughts and desires are. This doesn’t have to be methodical or perfect, but hopefully will result in authentic self-awareness that allows you to come to Jesus as you are, this is who He wants to encounter: you, right where you are at.
“If you just think about your thoughts, feelings and desires or just think about God, you have not truly prayed. You must relate and receive in relationship with Jesus’ loving, risen, pierced Heart.” –Fr Horn
Relate: Having acknowledged where you are at and what your thoughts, feelings and desires are, enter into conversation with Jesus and tell Him all about where you are at, how you feel and what your thoughts, feelings and desires are. The process of acknowledging and relating in prayer is all about opening up our lives to Jesus with child-like trust and faith that Jesus is ever faithful and true, desiring to heal, restore, renew and refresh our bodies and souls. Acknowledging allows us to hold in our hands what is going on in our lives, relating is putting it all into the faithful and loving hands of Jesus, whose mercy, compassion and love are boundless.
—“Speak to Jesus directly in the first person. Jesus loving heart is not distant, rather He is immediately present, dwelling within your heart.”—Fr. Horn
Receive: After relating all that is on your heart to Jesus, patiently await the Lord’s response.
—“Exercise the gift of faith, and wait in childlike trust to receive communication from Jesus’ Spirit indwelling. Remaining vulnerably receptive to God as love is utterly important. Let waiting on the Lord be your strength (Ps 18:2, Ex 14:14, 15:2). If you trust that God is faithful and full of love for you, you will receive more than you can ask for or imagine.”—Fr. Horn
Respond: As you receive from the Lord, (perhaps you feel an increase of faith, hope or love, or a renewal of strength—a refreshing sense of optimism not previously present….all of these are gifts given by God who is faithful and true), respond to the Lord as you are moved to.
“It could be more conversation; it could be a resolve to abide with His presence; it could be tears or laughter. In some way you are encouraged to say your “yes” to Jesus risen presence. Respond to what you are receiving.” –Fr. Horn
-Fr. Patrick