Strange as it might seem, I do not always pray a silent prayer the same way. Sometimes I can focus on prayer easily and I don’t even have to shut my eyes or move my lips. Sometimes I can’t quite shut out the world and I do need to shut my eyes. If it’s a really distracting day or environment, I must move my lips while I am praying silently.
This isn’t a problem unless I’m in traffic, stopped at a light, and decide to say a quick prayer. It must be a little worrisome for anyone to look over, see only one old lady in a van, with her eyes shut and her lips moving. I exaggerated a little there. I do not shut my eyes when I am in traffic, not even at a stoplight. Unless I sneeze, of course, and then I have no control over that. But if I’m trying to say a quick prayer, I do find I need to move my lips. That’s probably not too bad if someone looks over. I probably look as though I’m singing to something on the radio or a CD.
There are times when I needed to do that, move my lips, even in church. I don’t know why doing that increases concentration. I haven’t quite figured that out. The puzzling thing about prayer is that there are times when everything is hectic, I need to say a prayer, and I can do it eyes wide open, lips not moving, my mind able to concentrate for those few brief moments. I like that when it happens.
Father, no matter how I do it, I am glad you are there to hear my prayers, no matter how I say them.
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