All prayer is grace.
Why is all prayer grace? Because every prayer of ours is a gift, and every time we pray is a gift. Whenever our thoughts turn to God, whether in desperation or gratitude, it is a gift. It is a response to God, who is constantly reaching out to us in love. We were created to be in a relationship with God, but it is easy to forget this! – To get so caught up in the day-to-day challenges, frustrations, and joys, that we neglect our primary relationship, with the One who created us and who loves us and who wants nothing more than to hear from us, and to spend time with us, simply to be with us.
Every prayer is a response to this love and draws us deeper into this love. So, what I believe more than anything else about prayer, and about life, is that it is all grace.
My Pastoral Ponderings 
Great post Pastor and thank you for the important reminder. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says it similarly, but adds the addition of it being a “battle.”
“Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle.”
A gift given, a response, and a readiness for battle!
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That’s very helpful, Tim. Thank you. I was emphasizing the giftedness of prayer in this post, but I agree that prayer is also a battle. It is a good reminder that we shouldn’t expect prayer to always be easy. Thanks for the reminder, and blessings to you as you engage in the battle!
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Let grace abound!
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Amen!
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So very true
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I love this, James. Sharing this on my church Facebook page. I do a Messy Church Moment (rather than a children’s moment) a nd this week’s Moment is on Prayer and Worship. So this is great prep for folks to think about. Blessings, Michele
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Glad to hear it. Your Facebook page sounds great. I would like to follow it. Can you share with me the link?
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Absolutely, on Facebook it is listed as “East Church Canton” the church name is East Canton UMC but since it is no the only canton…
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