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We’ve been talking in the last few weeks about what happens when you pray. So far we’ve talked about experiencing emotions and having insights. Today I’d like to talk about memories. This is one of the most powerful of all experiences in prayer, but it’s often ignored. You may be asking God for help in your life, let’s say during a moment of real stress. Suddenly you have this memory of a time when God was helping you. Where do you think that memory comes from? Or you may be feeling lonely and suddenly have a memory of a friend who was kind to you recently. Where do you think that comes from? A few years ago on retreat, I was wondering about God’s love for me, and suddenly, out of the blue, I remembered a particular time from my childhood, which gave me great joy. I was moved not simply by the memory but by what was happening. God was, as I saw it, entering into my prayer and saying, in essence, “Remember this.” It was a beautiful gift. Be open to such gifts. Be open to the gift of memory, from God.
