Listening with the Heart – Prayer

First of all, whatever good work you begin, ask God with sincere and earnest prayer to bring it to completion.

– Prologue

Benedict has spent the opening of the Rule calling us to listen, to obey, to return and to respond to Christ. Now he gives us his first direct and simple instruction.

Pray.

The words “first of all” feel significant in a world where we are increasingly eager to begin new work but before we begin the work, Benedict tells us to pray. This is easy to forget. We often begin with our own plans. We think about what needs to be done, how we are going to do it and what we hope to achieve. Prayer can become something we turn to afterwards, when we need help or when things have not gone as planned.

Benedict puts prayer first. Whatever good work we are beginning, we should first bring it before God. This does not mean that we should stop planning or using the gifts and abilities God has given us. It means that we recognise that we cannot rely on our own strength.

Even good intentions can become difficult to sustain. We can begin something with enthusiasm and then lose heart. We can become tired, distracted or discouraged. We can discover that what seemed easy at the beginning requires more patience and perseverance than we expected.

Benedict knows this. That is why he tells us to ask God to bring our good work to completion. Notice also the way he describes our prayer. It should be sincere and earnest.

Benedict is not asking for elaborate words. He is asking us to come before God honestly, with a genuine desire for His help. Earnest prayer means that we mean what we are saying. It means bringing our work before God because we know we need Him.

Perhaps there is something good you have been thinking about beginning. Perhaps you have already started something that you are struggling to continue.

Bring it to God.

Ask Him for the grace to begin well, the strength to continue and the faithfulness to finish what He has given you to do.

A Practice for the Week

Before beginning something each day, stop and pray.

It does not need to be a long prayer.

Simply say:

“Lord, I place this work before You. Give me the grace to begin it well and bring it to completion.”

Then begin.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Teach me to seek You before I begin my work.
Keep me from relying only on my own strength.
Give me an earnest and sincere heart in prayer, and help me to trust You with the work You have placed before me.
Where I grow tired or discouraged, give me perseverance.
Bring to completion the good work You have begun in me.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.