Prayer pure hearts and minds6/13/2023 ![]() For example, when asking for things, I put my hands together and acted out the part of a sincere beggar (without moving my feet, that is). ![]() I don't know why I did this, but I began to become very animated during each blessing, using my hands and making gestures that indicated sincerity. I began to become very animated during each blessing, making gestures that indicated sincerity. However, a little voice inside said, "It's bad enough you have to pray on your own and away from synagogue, and now you want to dismiss God so fast?" ![]() I felt little desire to pray, and lots of desire to speed up and be done with it already. In a strange environment, I was having difficulty concentrating on the words. While traveling, I was forced to have to pray on my own, and without a minyan. Something else I did once also helped the situation. As I became more observant, my perception of myself as a person who prays became enhanced, and less foreign, making prayer time far more "natural." Wanting to pray and working on improving my ability to pray has resulted for me in spiritual growth and character refinement. It was like wearing someone else's "clothing". Prayer seemed to be such a righteous and pure experience (after all, you ARE talking to God!), and I did not feel my life reflected that privilege enough. I remember when I was learning to pray, how difficult it was to see myself as someone who prays to God. The second aspect of purity when it comes to prayer is self-perception. In your personal Siddur, write one to two words that will focus you when you arrive at each individual prayer. While saying a word, or phrase, stop to ask yourself in your mind, "What does this mean? Why is this important to me. Right now, I want to pray and only pray." The idea usually passes. They'll be time to think about this later. Instead, calmly saying to yourself (in your mind), "Not now. Nothing ruins your concentration more than negative emotions. If some idea pops up during an inopportune moment, don't panic or get upset. Other issues are important to me, but, it is COUNTERPRODUCTIVE to consider them now while in a state of prayer." Saying this allows you to become clear about your goal and priority of praying, and makes it easier to push interfering thoughts away when they intrude.
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