Last week I discussed prayer as a means of our growing in the knowledge and love of God. This week I discuss prayer as a means by which we develop our human potential (physical, emotional, and intellectual) and even change the world around us. God provides us with special talents and unique experiences by which we fulfill our mission. We grow in competence for mission through personal striving, but far more so through God’s divine tutelage. In God’s marvelous plan, we accomplish far more with his help than we ever could by ourselves, yet our accomplishments remain truly our own: “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater”! (Jn 14:12) The case is similar to that of a martial arts teacher and his student. The teacher’s help is certainly indispensable, but the student really is the one who wins the prizes! On this analogy, prayer is an attitude of attentiveness to God that I exercise throughout my day and “without ceasing” (1 Th 5:17). All the events of my day, large and small, are intended as divine lessons for my personal growth, growth in wisdom and in the knowledge of how I might respond for the sake of God’s “kingdom” (Col 4:11). While God teaches me at every moment, I can still benefit from taking time apart to quiet my mind and sense God’s presence, that I might better recognize and understand my divine lessons. (For aids to prayer, see “resources/useful links” on our website)