12/26/24 Last year, I think during the summer and early fall of 2023, I was reading “Fire Within” by Thomas Dubay. The books centers around the lives and teachings of Teresa of Avila (St. Teresa of Avila), and Juan de la Cruz (St. John of the Cross). Both of these figures are heroes to me, and since I was working on a book about Teresa, I found this book to be a good suggestion (from my husband) to work on. There is a place in the book where Teresa, who was a celibate catholic nun (remaining unmarried on earth during her life), gives credence to the idea of married people being able to have as much chance as spiritual loftiness in a righteous life of Christian practice. She believes that the possibility for their holiness is as much as a celibate monk or nun would have. I found this to be wonderful. She mentioned the thought and observance of “those who live upright orderly lives in godliness and families” and I loved that! In the past, about 20 years ago, especially when I was first born again, I was fascinated to learn about saints, missionaries, and all kinds of faith heroes. In my own journey to come to know Jesus, I was starting to have more heightened states of focus in prayer, and I loved the “union” I would feel in the Lord. I was not then or now qualified in the way of explaining such holy types of things. But my hope is in that reading about prayer, and practicing prayer out of necessity, I can learn to articulate holy mysteries. I find that there is a need to gather many solid truths about prayer from Catholics and Protestants alike.

I love to hear about Teresa and her prayer experiences, and sesire to have the order and unction in the fiery words of Adam Clarke! God is not always so concerned in delivering the gospel in eloquent words. He is concerned with the earnestness of delivery though! Above all, the most profitable way to pray or approach prayer that there is has to be to model Jesus’ Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-14); doing this and learn other things about prayer from Jesus’ teachings. Indeed, there is much to be learned even by looking at the prayers of the prophets and saints of the Old Testament, too! One of the most precious prayers that I know of personally is the “crying-out-for-Jesus-in-extreme-desperation-prayer”. Usually that type of prayer is found in the genuine plea that saves us all! God help us to be honestly praying our way to see His kingdom comes in our lives. Amen.