Q:
My
question is about prayer (or the lack of it). Try as I might, I can't
get
into the habit of prayer. How should I pray? I have tried all the usual
ways: devotions, rosary, novenas, silent prayer, and on and on but I
can't
keep it up for any length of time.
-R.W.
A:
You
can't keep it up for any length of time? Hmm...you may want t
o consider re-wording
that in the future.
But your situation
regarding prayer is something
that all of us struggle with. And getting into the habit of prayer
takes
discipline. Take it from an un-disciplined person, it's not gonna be
easy
to form this habit - but form it we must.
(I sound like Yoda there.
"Yes,
form it we must. Use the force, RW").
Getting a routine for
prayer is like a routine
for working out. Setting a specific time aside and making ourselves do
it even when we don't want to...because it's the right thing to do.
God's not necessarily
looking for hours at a time,
though, so start small - just a couple minutes a day. And just like a
work
out, slowly build up the routine as you can.
As to how to pray,
one resource is a little
book called "Prayer for Beginners" by Peter Kreeft. But other than
that,
we'd suggest the following:
There are formal prayers,
of course; Jesus taught
the Our Father when the disciples said "Lord, teach us to
pray".
So take heart that the disciples had a tough time praying, too! But
instead
of just repeating the Our Father over and over again - reflect on each
sentence, even each word - to see if they give new meaning to your
prayer
life.
But if your prayer feels
like empty words, maybe
instead of "formal" prayer you just need to pray from your heart. Tell
God whatever it is you want to say...even if it's just "Hey God, I'm
dyin'
over here! Help a brother out!" God will hear ya. And we also have to
remember
to not only talk to God in prayer...but to listen to
Him,
too.
I know, I know, we probably
won't "
hear"
His voice - but we listen in the stillness of our hearts to where He's
leading us. No need to listen for actual voices...because people that
hear
voices? Well, we usually call those people crazy.
