5/26/2020

Interior Prayer is Contemplative. It is God’s work within us. We are not in control of being in the state of Contemplation, only God controls what we receive. We are in control of our lives in that we learn how to make a ‘Space to be found by God in the silence of our hearts. That is the place deep inside of us where God Speaks to our heart.

For centuries, Contemplative Prayer was ‘hidden’ in the Monasteries and Convents. I don’t believe that it was intentional. I read a book that helped me understand why this happened when I was trying to find out what ‘Intimacy with God,’ was all about, and how I was supposed to get there .

There was a sentence that said something like this, ‘Contemplative Prayer, is a prayer that was most often experienced by those secluded away from the mainstream of life, such as Monks, Hermits and Cloistered Nuns.” ( I can’t remember the book – or find the sentence again).

This prayer was ‘not taught’ to the ordinary people of the world. It was felt that the adults were to busy caring for their families to take the time away from their care.’ I did understand . . .but I also felt that ‘IF’ more families were led — in Prayer by their Fathers . . . maybe – our world would not be in the broken mess it is in. I felt – that I needed this close relationship with God as much as any Clergy – maybe more.

It is true, Contemplative Prayer can be time consuming. But the Results, make it worth every minute that I spend with God! 

Some people ‘instinctively’ know how to come to God in Prayer. Some have to be carefully taught. I had to be taught. Someone tried to teach me Centering Prayer because I had asked. But, I could not ‘Achieve’ the desired Emptiness – that Centering Prayer suggests. Our ‘Multi-tasking ability fights against the goal of ‘s-i-l-e-n-c-e! But, I did not give up! I presented myself to the Lord everyday after; Office, Rosary, Holy Mass, and Fellowship after Mass. I have discovered a few years later, that Centering Prayer is just ‘one way ‘ to prepare ourselves to reach a ‘Deeper Union with God.‘ It is not the desired Destination. To Put yourself in a ‘place to be found by God . . . requires . . .s-i-l-e-n-c-e . . .to be able to hear His voice . . . and ultimately . . . to — L-i-s-t-e-n . . .

By myself, in the Chapel . . . I came to ‘Know God.’ I ‘Presented myself to the Lord in surrendering this 20 minutes to Him every weekday — to just ‘BE’ — in His Presence. Have you heard (Psalm 46:10). It says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (these are the original words from the Hebrew – Greek – English Bible). I believe that because these words are in quotations . . . that it is ‘God speaking‘ to all of us, giving a ‘Directive to mankind.’ As such, it is not merely a suggestion!

I found Interior Prayer to be a Holy Place . . . and I Desired to “Be still” – and discover Peace – ‘In, With and Through – God.’

Written 3/20/2020 — ” Interior Prayer is about My relationship with God!”

Written 3/21/2020 — “God, leads me to the First level of Interior prayer through giving me a DESIRE . . . to know Him better. This place is where the “Peace comes’. . . And as I rest in that ‘s-p-a-c-e’ . . . with the Holy Spirit and Jesus . . I find, and feel Peace . . .“

Sometimes – God wants to give me MORE . . . and He leads me into a deeper level in the ‘Spiritual Realm.’  This, is when I have noticed that a ‘Second’ – Curtain’ drops  over ‘my minds eye.’ I think that this ‘Deeper Level’ — is where the “Mystical‘ happens. Things happen in the darkness of ‘my minds eye’ – like, Receiving ‘Light Images’ . . . that grow from a ‘small white dot’ — to a ‘Figure Image’ – or ‘Word Image’ – that fades slowly . . Sometimes it is a ‘Physical Sensations‘ like . . . warmth — tingling — or movement within my body that I cannot —- and – do not – control. ‘THOSE’ experiences —- I understand, is ALL — “the stirrings – of the Holy Spirit” (2 Timothy:6-7;        1 Corinthians 2:10: and 1 Corinthians 2: 16)

When these things happen I understand, that God —- is speaking to my heart. He is ‘teaching‘ me – or ‘Enlightening‘ me, to what He wants me to study . . . or know . . . even if I don’t ‘hear, or see, or feel anything.’

In the very beginning of these ‘Spiritual Happenings,’ I had no idea of what was happening to me,  or why it was happening. It was during the winter of 2012 -2013, that God gave me these word Images. “IS 18′ – and – “EX 26.” He was leading me on a path of STUDY, that I have not stopped!

After reading (Isaiah 18), three times , and not understanding what any of that had to do with me, I closed the Bible, and went about my day.

The next morning I went to Prayer . . . and after, I opened the Bible . . . and read it again . . . this time I made a list of what,  in each line touched my heart . . . then in another list I tried to define what this meant for my life.

(Isaiah 18) said: ” . . . from a land of buzzing wings . . . sending messengers in haste, — in papyrus boats. . . to a land with people tall and bronzed . . . with many rivers.” It spoke of  “lifting the banner on the mountain peaks . . . and it will be seen. — And hear the blowing of the trumpet when it calls, — and Jehovah – of hosts — will watch from His dwelling place. For before the harvest . . . He will prune . . .and snip the sprigs, and carry off the branches. . . the birds will summer on them and the creatures of the earth will winter on them . . then gifts shall be brought to Jehovah —- of hosts, —- a present —- from the people – tall and bronze, —- to Jehovah —- of the host: — to Mount Zion.” (Translation is from the Hebrew – Greek – English Bible). (accentuation’s are mine)

What I understood from this Chapter was; That the ‘buzzing wings‘ – were me — (a little – always busy person — too busy). ‘Papyrus boats‘ – (wow! – paper boats — they needed to hurry!) . . . ‘lifting a banner on the mountain‘- the CROSS — to me. ‘Listen for the Trumpet‘ – ‘BE READY!’ ‘God will watch from His Dwelling place’ – I understood that ‘this place‘ – is my soul! ‘He will prune’ – (I was pruned) . . . to encourage – flourishing Growth. I also understood that — ‘the ‘Gift’ being brought “to Jehovah of hosts“    (God) … was Jesus . . . (Who preserved Himself in a tiny piece of Bread (a HOST) . . . for all Eternity) . . . returning to God’s home on Mount Zion.

This Passage, given to me during the Deepest part of Prayer – helped me to first . . . look at myself . . . and learn to choose wisely the things that I kept so busy with. Even if it is for God — it might not be — what He wants me to do for Him. I believe – that was what the ‘Pruning‘ was all about. Secondly, I understood, that I am only to look at – and follow Jesus – through the Cross . . to God’s Mountain – Mount Zion (Heaven).

The Second ‘Word Image,’ was “Exodus 26.” Read it for yourself to learn about the Intricacy’s — of the construction of the “ARC” (it’s important!) — which was Built to be the Dwelling Place of God Almighty when here on earth. I will describe it but I won’t paraphrase it. This chapter is where God — gives Moses — the ‘EXACT‘ directions — for building the ‘ARC of the Covenant,‘ to the tiniest detail! Even with my Scriptural immaturity in 2013 – I felt — that God — was telling me to ‘Carefully build My Personal Arc . . . for God to DWELL IN” . . . and I still do believe that, even though I did not know how. It was a GREAT learning process that God was leading me on! And I welcomed it with a ”Thirsty“ – heart and mind.

What you do not know about me yet — is: that I am Dyslexic. My inability to spell, read, and keep up with the rest of my classmates . . . and ultimately — with the rest of the world — affected my self-esteem. Which affects a persons whole life! I was not able to learn basic sentence construction — that is why I ‘write, like I think. This is also why , what I am doing for God right now . . . is ‘A Charism of the Holy Spirit!“ Given to me – a Dyslexic person who read only what was necessary . . . Changed me into a person who cannot get enough information about God!’

These Images during ‘Interior Prayer‘ are considered “Locutions, and Visions.” I did not know this for sure, but I did believe God was teaching me the path that I was to travel on — through — these Images. I was finally blessed with a Spiritual Director who helped me Discern these and so many other Images given to me in my ‘Interior Prayer.‘ I receive these images,  because I desire to “choose the better part“ . . . Like Saint Mary Magdalene . . . I have learned that I needed . . .  ‘to put myself in a place to be found by God.” (Fr. Mark Toups). For me . . . ‘Interior Prayer – is this place.’

It wasn’t until February 2020, that I read that Pope Benedict XVI, wrote a ‘Paper’ about “Private Revelation.”  including what – ‘Visions and Locutions’ are. On Page 8 of the book written by Mark Miravalle, “Private Revelation,’ he quotes Pope Benedict as saying, “Private Revelation, constitutes a manifestation of divine truth given to an individual for the Spiritual benefit of the person, a particular group, or for the universal benefit of the Church and the world. Private Revelation has as its purpose – not the revealing of new doctrine, but rather the guiding of humanity in its efforts to incorporate more fully the truths of the Gospel already contained in public revelation.” This book clarified in my mind that what I felt about the ‘Images and Words’ were correct.

My own journey with Jesus has produced some beautiful ‘Messages’ that my Spiritual Director feels need to be shared with others. So, I am trying to share them with as many people as I can. Thank You God for the courage to do this.

Being given the Spiritual Gifts, called ‘Charisms’ — that I have been given — as a “Gracious Gift from God,” Helps me to be able to fulfill my ‘Mission for Christ.’ I am compelled to, “Teach what I have taught you.“ That is a message that I heard after receiving Holy Communion in 2016 and several times since then, in different words; like “Teach them of my love for them.“ and, “Teach them about my great Mercy.” and so many more. My Pastor had said in a Homily – “To ask Jesus after receiving Him in Holy Communion – “Jesus, what do you want me to do for You?“ —- and then L-i-s-t-e-n . . .

For me, ‘Interior Prayer’ was given to me to draw me Closer and Closer to Jesus . . . through the Power — and Encouragement of the Holy Spirit. — He has given me the ‘Gracious Spiritual Gifts‘ that He wants me to use to help ‘Build up the Kingdom of God.’ He asks each one of us to do our part — and He gives us the Spiritual Gifts to do the work of Jesus on this earth.

I Praise and Thank You God for Pruning me . . . and Guiding me . . . and Teaching me – ‘HOW — to become your Disciple‘ (student). And, through the Charisms . . . We are giving me the ‘Isaiah Spiritual Gifts’ of ‘Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Fortitude, Counsel, Piety, and Fear of the Lord,’ that are found in (chapter 11:2-3). I was given them to enable me — to reach inside of me . . . to do the ‘Work’ — that Jesus is asking me to do, “to Build up the Kingdom of God.” It was God Himself, who has taught me ‘Interior Prayer, and let me experience Contemplation.’

My book ‘Christ in our Midst’ has a section in the beginning that tells about “Interior being the source of all my writings. ‘Christ in our Midst’ is teaching all who read it how the Fruits and Gifts and Charisms work together in our lives to Build up the Kingdom of God. This book, ‘Christ in our Midst’ can be ordered from your local Walmart on line or your local book store, or these on line as listed above.

Thank You God,

Your faithful servant, Clairann

To read more go to ‘Prayer’ New

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To read more go to “Spontaneous Prayer’

To read more go to ‘Unintentional Interior Prayer’

To read more go to “Our need for Interior Prayer’ 

To read more go to ‘Mystical Relationship’‘

To read more go to  ‘Mystical Holy Spirit & Jesus’

To read more go to ‘Messages in Prayer’