Jenny Parker- The Phenomenology of Prayer I

So far this book has been an interesting and easy read. Benson tells us "in praying we learn who we are and how we relate to God" (Benson p.2). I find it very interesting though that "we do not really know how to pray and so are constantly in the state of learning" (Benson p.4). At first I was confused by this but as I continued to read I understood what Benson was saying. Prayer is a constant state of learning and for some reason it is hard for a majority of us to praise God. Why? We are so focused on ourselves that we forget to praise God. This was a big realization and mind blowing to me as I read about this. "Praise is the perfection of worship and, we might add, of prayer" (Benson p.14). We must include praise in our prayer; we must deconstruct "that burning preoccupation with [ourselves]" (Benson p.15). Why are humans like this? We can be so preoccupied with ourselves and asking what we want from God that we forget to praise him.