Defining Passion: Phenomenology of Prayer

The Oxford English Dictionary defines passion as "an eager, outreaching interest toward things." I think that passions need to be driven. People receive the drive from external things, such as the world or God. I believe that humans innate desires are against God and by our own power we cannot desire or have passions for things of God. As it is explained in the Phenomenology of Prayer, prayer is used as a means to align our passions with God, so we can live for him. Prayer allows us to be open to hearing and doing God's will. However, in Paul's letter to the Galatians, he states that our flesh cannot act out these passions alone, but if one has repented and believed in Jesus, then God has sent a helper to allow us to have these passions to live for God. Driven by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can then have "an eager, outreaching interest towards things" that are aligned with God's will. 

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