Our Father...نموونە

Practicing Presence

What if prayer is less about words and more about awareness?

Sometimes, the most powerful prayer is not what we say, it’s what we realise. Jesus doesn’t begin the Lord’s Prayer with requests. He begins with presence. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9, NIV) It’s a gentle call to stillness before any movement or need.

As it says in Psalm 46:10 (NIV), “Be still, and know that I am God.” The Hebrew word for “still” implies letting go. Stop striving. Stop controlling. Just be. When we approach prayer this way, we learn to be with God, not just talk at him.

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah experiences God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire—but in a gentle whisper. God is not always loud, but he is always near. To practice presence means to slow down and open our hearts to the reality that God is already here.

Try this: before you ask anything today, spend five minutes in silence. Breathe. Be present. Whisper the words “Our Father.” Let that phrase remind you of who he is and who you are. Invite his presence to fill your attention.

Prayer is not about performance. It is about presence. Start there today.

Prayer:
Father, quiet my heart. Teach me to be present with you. Not rushing into words, but resting in your nearness. Help me to experience you, not just talk about you. Let your presence reshape the way I live and pray.