Mindful Prayer: A Bridge Between Presence and Faith

The language of prayer is probably one of the oldest forms of spiritual invocation. Across cultures and beliefs, people over ages of time have used this form of supplication to reach toward something that we believe is greater than ourselves. Whether it is a prewritten prayer passed down by our parents or grandparents to those created in the moment in a time of need, reaching toward love and toward wisdom is what holds us all is that divine connection we share in those moments. As we begin to implement a mindfulness approach to prayer, we begin to witness a rebirth of act and intent. The process becomes more holistic, less ritual, and helps us maintain a presence in that moment.

A mindful prayer is not about the recitation of phrases. It’s not about using a script or saying the things that you believe that you are supposed to say. Mindfulness in prayer is about showing up fully with your breath, your full awareness, truth, and your heart. While slowing down long enough to feel the intention behind your words, there is no need to rush. When one prays, there is no need to perform and there is no need to “get it right.” Instead, by allowing the prayer to rise from within you, it flows naturally like a conversation rather than a transaction.

At Kind Rebirth, we want to continue to point out the significance of presence in prayer. Before speaking, breathing is important. Settle down before we ask. Open our hearts before we begin to open our mouths. Grounding in this moment brings your mind into alignment with your spirit. Here we can quiet the noise around us and our personal ego which offers delusion and confusion. Our truths live within, so it’s crucial we connect with these sacred spaces. A rebirth of prayer transforms prayer from something that is done into something that is experienced.

Reinvention of Practice

Prayer is a devotional practice that incorporates speaking, but in mindfulness, listening is just as important. Prayer is oftentimes approached as a one-sided action – we talk, we ask, we make pleas, and we hope. However, a prayer rebirthed through mindfulness creates the space needed for receiving inner guidance. Sitting in silence after you have opportunity to speak your truth with the divine, siting peace as part of the practice allows wisdom to rise through sensation, through newfound clarity, and through intuitive knowledge. In silence after prayer is a beautiful place to locate the answer we seek.

After a few years of studying other devotional practices, I began to notice the patterns of prayers. I was caught in the routine of trying to sound faithful, like the world was acting against me, or like I wasn’t doing wrong in my own life rather than being honest about my limitations and shortcomings in life. At a point, I learned that I had to stop filtering and tailor my emotions in order to be truly present. I had to become more honest and speak from my soul rather than speaking from fear and from selfish desire. Divinity connection works better through humility than hubris.

Additionally, prayers are often offered with a feeling of tension and reserve for fear that they are not being heard or worrying about asking for too much or a feeling. Or we may feel guilty about needing guidance of shame when we are feeling lost. However, if prayer is rooted in compassion and mindfulness, it’s knowing that no better person needs to show up because our divine meets us exactly as and where we are. It gives you permission to bring your authentic self, including each wounded limb, each feeling of confusion and doubt, and the parts that hope for better circumstances. That wholeness invites presence.

Gratitude and Trust

Another powerful aspect of mindful prayer is gratitude. I’m not referring to the gratitude that is forced, but the one that arises from the awareness that let’s you know that you are always supported, always guided, and always loved. Sometimes gratitude emerges as a list instead of a state of being. Let it bring the parts of your heart that have supported an expanded perspective of the abundance you currently possess rather than the scarcity you envision.

Let your rebirthed prayer mindfully teach you trust. Consider praying for alignment instead of praying for solutions that appear in an instant. Alignment, clarity, strength, and guidance build trust and are beneficial when paths are unclear. Grow into the idea that prayers are no longer platitudes, they are your spiritual anchors, or places you can return to when times are taxing and complicated to figure out.

A Kind Rebirthed prayer can make the entire act of praying not just a mere moment, but a string of moments creating a rhythm woven into your everyday life. Whether you are washing dishes, walking the dog, driving to work, or just before you fall asleep, start to pray in simple ways and in simple activities. Through the breath, through intention, through silence, through gratitude and through trust, your prayer becomes a two-way connection to the cosmic universe or your divine creator in every moment.

This is mindful prayer the Kind Rebirths way – a bridge connecting the inner you with the divine, conversation rooted in gratitude, truth, and presence.

Stay mindful…

Rebirth