Prayer is the ultimate Euphoria. To be in union with immortality, to be in contact with the divine is to become immortal and divine oneself.

How to reach this state of bliss? Ceaseless prayer!

What is prayer? To most people prayer is a duty, a chore, a penance. Most people pray when things go bump in the night or they encounter a difficult situation – a health problem, a financial setback, a marital downturn, or a frightening experience; or, when they want something beyond reach like winning the lottery. Moreover, prayer to them is always formal: a set time each day at a certain religious place like a church or their home icon corner.

All of the above are examples of prayer, but they are other more positive ones.

Prayer is communion with God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Any time, any place!

Prayer takes many forms and that is why it needs to be done ceaselessly; i.e., at all times. Starting when we wake in the morning we thank God for being alive another day and ask His blessings on our thoughts and actions for the day. We again bring God into our lives as we begin a task and when we finish it whatever it may be: making breakfast, walking or driving to work or school, attending class or a meeting, or fabricating something with our hands; a sweater, a poem, a chair or table, a garden; or when we are in awe of the natural world around us, the flowers, the trees, the birds, the sunset, the moon and stars. We also thank God for all our blessings and our talents. We praise Him for His mighty works. We glorify Him for His everlasting love for us. We remember Him when we retire for the night asking Him to watch over us and give us peaceful sleep.

It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and to chant unto thy name, O most High

            To proclaim in the morning Thy mercy, and Thy truth by night. Ps 92:1-2

Yet, we also can be angry at God for we do not live in a paradise. We live in this world and in this sinful and adulterous world things go wrong. We see injustice, we experience pain, and we notice exploitation of the rich and powerful against the poor and weak. Further, we know we are weak when we experience lust, or envy, or jealousy, or give into sinful thoughts and actions or addictions. There is, unfortunately, a less desirable and negative side to our days and lives: set-backs and losses that bring out our lesser natures; anger and despondency, for example. But, God is there with us when we suffer – for did He not promise us that He would be with us “even to the end of the age?” [Matt 28:20] At another time He also promised: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” [John 14:18] Do we not pray to the Holy Spirit “who is in all places and fills all things” thus acknowledging that He surrounds us?

It is okay to rail at God because this is another way to communicate with Him. Did not the Psalmist cry out:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?