When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Matthew 6:7

We typically think of prayer as words. Perhaps it is because we share our prayers with each other by words, or use words when we pray together.  

Or maybe, we just…like words.  

For whatever reason, we typically think of worded prayer as the norm and silent prayer as the exception.

But what if the opposite could be true—that silent prayer was the norm and worded prayers the exception?

I’ve found that my own prayer life has moved this direction over the past few years. Silent prayer is my norm. (I know that’s an ironic thing to say in a prayer blog containing a lot of my words.)

Today, let me commend silence to you. I find that the habit of taking a few moments in silence as a part of my prayer practice, and often the great majority of my time in prayer, has helped me be less restless in prayer, less worried about my feelings about prayer, and less concerned with getting prayer right. I find it to be very freeing.  

Today, spend some time in silence, simply offering yourself to God’s presence. Cultivate the capacity to be still and quiet.