’Idál, 08 Mas͟híyyat (Will), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
Prayer need not be in words, but rather in thought and attitude. But if this love and this desire are lacking, it is useless to try to force them. Words without love mean nothing. If a person talks to you as an unpleasant duty, with no love or pleasure in his meeting with you, do you wish to converse with him? — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1
Question for Consideration:
What does the impulse to pray spring from? 2
Google Bard Response:
The impulse to pray springs from our love for God. When we love someone, we naturally want to communicate with them and share our thoughts and feelings with them. Prayer is a way for us to do this with God.
In the passage from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that you quoted, he emphasizes the importance of sincerity in prayer. He says that words without love mean nothing. This is because prayer is not about performing a ritual or reciting a set of memorized phrases. It is about having a genuine conversation with God.
When we pray, we should be open and honest with God about our thoughts, feelings, and needs. We can pray for anything and everything, from the big things in our lives to the small. We can also pray for others, asking God to bless them and help them in their lives.
The impulse to pray can come from a variety of sources. It may be triggered by a specific event or experience in our lives, such as a birth, death, or illness. It may also come from a more general sense of gratitude or love for God. And sometimes, the impulse to pray may simply come from a deep need to connect with God on a spiritual level.
Whatever the source, the impulse to pray is a natural one. It comes from the love that we have for God, and from the desire to communicate with Him. When we pray, we are not just talking to ourselves. We are talking to the Creator of the universe, who loves us unconditionally and wants to hear from us.
Here are some specific examples of things that might trigger the impulse to pray:
- Feeling grateful for something in your life.
- Feeling lost or confused.
- Facing a challenge or difficulty.
- Experiencing grief or loss.
- Feeling a deep connection to God.
- Simply wanting to talk to God and share your thoughts and feelings.
If you ever feel the impulse to pray, don’t ignore it. It is a gift from God.
- Report of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words as quoted in J. E. Esslemont, Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, pp. 94. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/importance-prayer-meditation-devotional-attitude/3#987236432.
. ↩ - Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 17. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 