Verse of the day: Let us lift up our hearts, together with our hands, to God in heaven (Lamentations 3. 41).
The practice of prayer teaches us how unworthy we are; and it is a very useful lesson for proud people like us. If God granted us favors without forcing us to pray for such favors, we would never know how poor we really are. A true prayer is an inventory of the things we need, a catalog of needs, and a revelation of hidden poverty. Although it is an allusion to divine wealth, it is a confession of human emptiness. The healthiest state of a true believer is to be always empty or poor in himself, to remain constantly dependent on the Lord for his needs; be rich in Jesus, weak in person, but powerful in God to accomplish great deeds. This is the reason for the practice of prayer: while worshiping God, he places the creature where it really should be: prostrate on the ground. Prayer itself, whatever the answer it gives us, is of great benefit to the believer. Just as an athlete gains strength to run through daily exercise, so we gain energy for a long life through the sanctified work of prayer. Prayer fills the wings of the young eagles of God with feathers, to learn to fly above the clouds. Prayer girdles the loins of God’s warriors and sends them into battle with firm muscles. A sincerely praying believer leaves his room as the sun rises from the eastern suburbs, rejoicing like a strong man, ready to run his race. Prayer clothes the weakness of the believer with divine vigor, transforms human madness into divine wisdom, granting the peace of God to mortals in difficulty. We cannot imagine anything that prayer cannot do. Oh God, we thank you for the throne of mercy, a special proof of your wonderful goodness. Help us to use it correctly throughout this day!