It's relatively easy to overcomplicate mental prayer, thinking that only saints can pray to God, and not poor sinners like us.
However, that is not true at all, and St. Teresa of Avila sets the record straight.
In The Book of Her Life, she described mental prayer in simple terms as friendship with God.
All of us know how to converse with a friend, as we typically talk to our friends on a daily basis.
Should we not talk to God in a similar way?
St. Teresa does admit that loving God can be difficult, because God loves us so much, and we love him so little.
Yet, we shouldn't let our weakness discourage us. Simply put, we should strive to love God in our brokenness, seeing how much he loves us.
We may not be the best of friends, but God is our true friend, one who is always with us no matter how weak or sinful we might be.
The next time you pray to God, talk to him as a friend and pour out your life to him, knowing that he is there and always listening.
