Thomas Merton's Theology Of Contemplative Prayer

Milos Kulina Elie’s faith towards God changes a lot as the story goes on. In the beginning of the work, his faith in God is complete. In chapter one when asked why he prays to God, he says, “Why did I pray? ... Why did I live?

I thank you Yahusha for bringing me, my perfect match, I am bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. I thank you for sending the protective covering for me. Heavenly Father, please protect my husband’s state of mind and physical well-being because of praying this prayer. The I AM prays and come against any lies and slander that is spoken against my husband. As well as come against the spirit of revenge and that he is not looked down upon in his entire community.

An anonymous person once said that “we aren’t called to shine our own lights; we are called to reflect His.” A born again Christian, once fully understanding the gospel and putting his or hers trust in Jesus, will desire to want to grow and obey God in order to honor and glorify Him, and since the only one who kept God’s law perfectly was Jesus, then one will want manifest and imitate Christ in everything he or she does. Not only does reflecting Christ’s image glorify God, it stands out to others as well. All true believers experience radical change because of the Spirit, and that change shines like a bright light towards other people leading them to ask, wonder, and desire that change and growth in their own lives as

We are here on this earth to be a light in the darkness and show the world God. The best way to be that light is to pray the God through us is glorified. All too often we pray as a selfish child, God give me this or give me that. I have my pastor say that God is not our genie in the sky, but He is our loving and faithful Heavenly Father.

During this time, the pilgrim began to experience the positive benefits that he had hoped to achieve by engaging in ceaseless prayer. He was able to experience the direct revelation of the spirit and achieve a profound sense of personal ecstasy. This specific portion of the strannik’s story illustrates an important fact that all Christian’s must comprehend: making sacrifices and engaging in difficult practices (i.e. the Jesus Prayer) will eventually result in profound spiritual reward. I have come to realize that periods of spiritual stagnancy do not necessarily connote lazy or a disunity with Christ. Rather, these are simply times of trial in which God tests our spiritual resolve.

Essentially, Palmas interpreted apophatic meditation as “the experience of the divine in quiet stillness” (pg. 141). Although many spiritual practitioners prior to Palmas argued that apophatic meditation constituted an acceptance of the impossibility of divine experience, Gregory refuted this claim by asserting the following: although God can not be experienced in his own “being,” He makes intimate contact with mankind through an extension of his “energies of love” (pg. 142). Furthermore, God’s energies provide creative nourishment for all beings and extend the healing power of grace. According to Palmas, we as human beings are not required to actively seek out these energies. Rather, these energies (which constitute the actual presence of God) tend to find each individual regardless of whether or not they are actively seeking them.

Faith and reason are the two wings that help the man to rise to the truth. Faith and Reason (Fides et Ratio) are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth. This expression leads Pope John Paul II 's encyclical "Fides et Ratio". After reading this encyclical, I was amazed in how Pope John Paul II, in so few many words is able to synthesize the core of his letter, the subject of truth, something essential in life and history of men. Thus, as Pope John Paul II sponsors the capacity of human reason to be aware of the truth and demand that faith and philosophy again find their profound unity.

Further, Christianity believes that the work of Christ, through the cross, the resurrection, and ascension, restores that life and though not wholly realized yet, will one day be fully restored. The bible recognizes that the spirit of man is that which “gives life to the body” (Elwell, 1984, p. 1041). It “lies in one’s inmost being,” having been made by God so that people may have “fellowship with him” (Elwell, 1984). Through the prophet Jerimiah, God describes the people’s behavior and motivations by saying that they are thirsty because they have left Him (which is sin), the source of life, and seek life elsewhere (Jer. 2:13). Blaise Pascal (2,000) offers

Through his creations of human life and the universe and throughout history God has proved his own existence. God has also revealed to man his only son. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God sent his only son to do his will. Jesus did so and came forth with more sons of God.

Focusing on the leadership of Epaphras and his spiritual authority to lead them, we witness Paul utilize “the same ministry terminology he uses for himself.” A handful of peculiarities manifests as a result on a ministerial leader. Firstly, the action of Epaphras himself, as Hiebert states, “Epaphras knew the result he expected from his prayers. He had grasped the reality of ministering to his people through his prayers for them“ Epaphras exhibits the duty of the spiritual leader to pry. Hiebert further discusses Epaphras’s desire for and manifestation of stability.

Philippians 2:12-14 speaks about this spiritual co-operation between us and God, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing.” I love this scripture as it gives each of us some clear principles for living in Christ. You work out your own salvation. As salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and by obedience we work it out or live it out!

Therefore we must either choose to accept or reject the idea of Him and either become a member of the Christian faith or not. We now possess knowledge of God and His gifts to us as humanity and are also aware of the steps needed to be taken in order to be saved. We can no longer use the excuse of ignorance to God. He also bestowed us with our own free will in order to love him and follow Him on our own, as He only wants moral and honest people as his followers.

Why did I breathe?” (Wiesel 34). Based on this indication, it is obvious that the writer believes in the need for every individual to pray to God constantly and trust in Him at all times. Eliezer believes that praying to God faithfully should be at the core of everyone’s existence. By showing his unconditional love for God, who is all-powerful and kind, Eliezer is of the opinion that his life would be meaningless if he did not have faith in this divine being.

The reoccurring themes throughout Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians that I have depicted are; God’s unwavering forgiveness, God’s unconditional love, the mystery of God, being saved by grace through faith, and to build people up; not tear them down. In Ephesians, Paul entails that encountering the love of God will immerse us completely with all the wholeness of God. If we are not encountering the completeness of God in our everyday lives, then we are not acquiring God’s love in its entirety. The unconditional overflowing love of God is essential.

The first belief is “Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of our loving Heavenly Father” (Mormonism 101). This is described to be said, as the Saints believe that God himself sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to save all mankind from their sins. God is said to be the Heavenly Father who listens and answers all prayers and feels sympathy towards them. Later on God was worshipped as the Redeemer, the central guy, to all mankind of the church. He accepts mercy and grace that the followers seek including baptism, communion, praying, and doing good deeds to others around.