At some point in my spiritual development, I can’t really recall when my prayer moved from my head to my heart.  It is somewhat remarkable for me, for I have always been in my head, analytical, and not given in readily to emotion.  

I expect that it has to do with meditation in drawing closer to God as God creates in us an increasing desire for God’s love.  But also, in my work with the mentally ill, I have observed that there is a darkness that frequently sits deep down inside – perhaps in the heart and soul – where anger, fear, anxiety, depression, unresolved grief, addiction, and other obstacles make it difficult to fully experience God’s love and God’s healing power.  

I do not necessarily see these obstacles as evil, rather as emotional and spiritual sickness that all of us may experience from time to time.  The problem occurs when we become “stuck” or even comfortable in our pain.  

One of the more interesting aspects of meditation is that over an extended period these illnesses are brought to the surface and into the “light” as it were.  There, we can begin the healing process through a variety of coping/healing skills.  

These skills may involve medicine, psychiatric or psychological counseling, group therapy, pastoral counseling, and various forms of prayer support as well.  I do see spiritual and emotional healing going hand in hand and, as often as not, emotional healing is inadequate without spiritual healing.  Modern medicine, especially psychiatric and psychology, can become deficient when the spiritual component is neglected.

Prayer that emanates from the heart is a much deeper, non-ritualistic form of prayer than that from the head.  It requires one to submit the will (and thought) to God, without a focus on the outcome of the prayer, even though it may be in the form of a prayer request.  It requires the person praying to open their mind and the heart to whatever comes in response or no immediate response at all.

There is a distinct feeling in prayer that emanates from the heart that lifts the spirit and includes self as well as those being prayed for in a sort of all-embracing love. 

Perhaps, it is why Paul The Apostle refers to as love and charity as being the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit.