I woke up with this thought on my mind today: “For relief beyond belief: Instead of forcing yourself to believe–receive and perceive the presence of Jesus.” I think that’s the key to heart-felt prayer. It freely flows from the risen Jesus living inside us. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” It streams from Jesus’ love manifesting in and through us.

The Beatitudes shine light on the blessedness of that kind of prayer. Effectual, fervent prayer begins with such poverty of spirit that we mourn and become meek (pliable to the leading of the Spirit). Then we hunger and thirst for righteousness so much that we continually cry out to the living God for His presence and power, emptying our heart of all bitterness and unforgiveness. We continually let God’s presence fill and purify our heart as we make peace with Him and with others. When we’re opposed, we let that opposition bring us back to poverty of spirit and we repeat the beatitudinal cycle.