Oh prayer! My arch nemesis! I have such great plans, such great devotions handed to me so often and without fail I fall! I forget! I don't make time! What's a girl to do?! There are so many ways of prayer. Devotions, Liturgy of the Hours, prayer at meals, family prayer; you name it the church has a prayer for it. Kelly does say prayer requires commitment. Are you committed? If you are starting from scratch commit with one thing. Start with a simple prayer before meals, before bed or a morning offering and grow from there. According to the catechism the church says prayer is for adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise. What do you need in your life right now? Maybe you have a special petition or need to thank God for something. Do that. Just make sure that you take time daily to talk to God. Kelly poses a question I thought long and hard about "When was the last time you invited God into the decisions of your life?" How about when you bought that house? Or you and your spouse decided it was time to switch your NFP to having a baby. Did you ask God for His advice? Kelly also points out how life is vocational. We are always growing and changing in our vocation. God gave us this vocation. We need to be asking God what He wants from our vocation or what to do next within it.
"Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"- Matthew 11:28. Jesus is telling us to come to Him. Be with Him. He will help you to find peace. Prayer is like talking to your best friend or your spouse. Would that relationship survive without regular communication? Probably not. Well neither will your relationship with God. Starting from nothing? Well here are 10 suggestions I have that are small, simple and could help you grow in prayer.
1. Give a morning offering.
2. Give a prayer of thanksgiving and examination of conscience at night
3. Pray before a meal with the family
4. Say an Our Father with your spouse
5. Say the Angelus at noon
6. Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3PM
7. Chose a saint that relates to your needs and pray to them on a daily basis
8. Or learn about the saint of the day and pray to that saint
9. Pray for your spouse or children
10. Recite "Jesus I trust in You." Whenever you need to feel God's love and mercy.
Start small! Choose one maybe two things. Begin there, then grow. Good luck and know you are in my prayers!
No comments:
Post a Comment