How do you know if you prayed enough?

[EIF5A]

I know the real answer is, “There is never enough prayer.” But for normal humans like me…

Is it possible to know if your prayers for the day are satisfactory in the eyes of God?

I’m not capable of great penance, hours and hours of prayer, etc.

But I have free time that I use watching TV, having leisure time, etc.

I have this constant fear that because I haven’t prayed enough or reverently enough or that I was distracted numerous times during the few prayers I do pray, God is upset with me.

 

[grasscutter]

I doubt anyone could possibly pray “enough”. How about instead of thinking in terms of time and formal prayer, you (whenever the urge struck you) uttered quick spontaneous prayer. After a while this would become a habit and then your day might eventually become a conversation with God.

Now that I’ve written this, I think that I will start doing it.

 

[Razanir]

I tend to think of it as a tradeoff. Of course God doesn’t expect everyone do devote their lives to prayer. But at the same time, is it really so tough to do small things like even just say grace before meals?

Also, don’t think of prayer as a competition. Just because everyone near you is on their knees praying before Mass doesn’t mean you have to be. On the other hand, just because some people you know pray Lauds and Vespers daily, doesn’t mean you have to. What matters is that what you pray works in your life.

For example, my daily prayer routine is Lauds, Vespers, grace before any meals I sit down to, and a Rosary before bed (to which I add St. Michael and the Nunc Dimittis). And, of course, there’s story behind it. I’ve never felt good at spontaneous prayer, so I like the Liturgy of the Hours, because it’s set prayer with variety. I’m a student (and a layperson), so I limit myself to Lauds and Vespers, because I can and it fits in my schedule. It feels strange to me praying for a peaceful death every night, so I started a Rosary instead and carried over the Nunc Dimittis. I remain convinced I heard a demon in my dorm once, so I added St. Michael. And finally, I gave into Catholic peer pressure and started saying grace before every meal because all my friends were.

(I also add the Chaplet of St. Michael on his feast day, and of Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday)

So while this all works for me, you might not be the type of person who likes praying Psalms daily. Or you might have some devotion to the Divine Mercy, and pray that chaplet more often. Prayer isn’t a competition. Of course some prayer is better than no prayer, but you still shouldn’t necessarily feel guilty and fall into scruples if you spend a lot of time watching TV.

 

[EIF5A]

It just seems like people prayed and did more harsh penance back in the day…and their sins were probably less frequent and grave than mine.

 

[pianistclare]

It just seems like people prayed and did more harsh penance back in the day…and their sins were probably less frequent and grave than mine.

Sincere prayer.
Not harsh.
Some saint knelt on rice, laid on glass.
God desires your sincere prayer…for you to contemplate him with great love during the day. Only you know what that will entail. Maybe you can make greater sacrifice than you are now.
Maybe you can prayer for the souls in purgatory more.
Maybe you can pray fro the suffering children of the world.
And maybe you can make your mundane chores each day a prayer, like St. Therese of Lisieux. Maybe you can volunteer at a nursing home.
Don’t compare yourself to others. God doesn’t do that. He takes you as your are, and accepts your prayer. Just do it. To the best of your ability.
Peace.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I think most of us need a balanced approach.

The best kind of prayer is prayer that is focused, genuine, serious and practical.

For instance, asking God to win the lottery is lacking in a lot of such characteristics.

I’ve even heard of one Christian family that slept too late (impacting their business) because they were at church too late at night praying. I doubt God would want this.

There are some persons who are called to prayerful vocations in monasteries and convents.

I think it’s good for everyone to try and say the rosary daily. I suppose it’s good to pray in the morning, before meals and before bed.

 

[tawny]

We should try to pray unceasingly. Little prayers can be offered up throughout the day. On your way to some place, “Lord, let arrive safely”. On your way back, “Lord, thank you for a safe journey”. Prayers before & after meals. A prayer when you get up in the morning & before you go to sleep, etc. It becomes habit forming & routine.

 

[Debbie_Keefe]

St. Theresa of Calcutta once said something like, “I used to pray for God to change my world, but God changed me, and I changed my world”. As long as our prayer life is changing us, then we are on the right path. Numbers of prayers and kinds of prayers are not as important as communing with God.

 

[Petaro]

I know the real answer is, “There is never enough prayer.” But for normal humans like me…

Is it possible to know if your prayers for the day are satisfactory in the eyes of God?

I’m not capable of great penance, hours and hours of prayer, etc.

But I have free time that I use watching TV, having leisure time, etc.

I have this constant fear that because I haven’t prayed enough or reverently enough or that I was distracted numerous times during the few prayers I do pray, God is upset with me.

I personally think that some people can get obsessive about prayer. Your ordinay life can be offered to God, as long as you keep Him in your intentions and your acts. I must admit to failure to incessant prayer, so I say a hail Mary every time I start the car, not out of superstition but rather to further my prayer life.
If you make an offering of your day every morning, I believe we can act in prayer rather than speak in prayer.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Very long story short, moral theologians say 30 minutes of prayer each day is sufficient to fulfill the average layman’s daily requirements for both justice and charity. But we really must strive for more than the bare minimum and make sure were doing mental prayer as well.

 

[Razanir]

Very long story short, moral theologians say 30 minutes of prayer each day is sufficient to fulfill the average layman’s daily requirements for both justice and charity. But we really must strive for more than the bare minimum and make sure were doing mental prayer as well.

That said, 30 minutes isn’t nearly as difficult as a sounds. That’s reading about 5 chapters from the Bible every day, enough to get through in a year, or at least, so say the notes on the CHN plan.

 

[pianistclare]

That said, 30 minutes isn’t nearly as difficult as a sounds. That’s reading about 5 chapters from the Bible every day, enough to get through in a year, or at least, so say the notes on the CHN plan.

5 Chapters in 30 minutes? LOL You’re kidding right?
I stop to read footnotes, mull the passage(s) over in my head, pray about them…etc.
I just can’t roll through them like that. Wow. You must read very fast. Or you’ve already read the entire Bible through several times. My friend’s mother in her lifetime read the entire Bible front to back, 38 times. She was on her 39th reading of Lamentations when she died at 95.

 

[ready]

If you pray ejaculations to Jesus and Mary throughout your day, and pray your rosary faithfully daily, and faithfully pray 30 min. of mental prayer daily, and faithfully pray morning and night prayer daily (any prayers you choose, including a examination of conscience at night), and seek to do God’s holy Will all day and to please Him, then you will have pleased God very much by means of your ceaseless prayer. You will not have to worry that God is displeased with you for not praying enough. If you think you are not praying enough, then please pray more. We are supposed to be praying ceaselessly, so pray, pray, pray, and when you are not saying actual prayers, seek to do God’s Will and to please Him: and this will be prayer. God bless you.

 

[Razanir]

5 Chapters in 30 minutes? LOL You’re kidding right?
I stop to read footnotes, mull the passage(s) over in my head, pray about them…etc.
I just can’t roll through them like that. Wow. You must read very fast. Or you’ve already read the entire Bible through several times. My friend’s mother in her lifetime read the entire Bible front to back, 38 times. She was on her 39th reading of Lamentations when she died at 95.

Okay, well I am a fast reader. 16 chapters in 45-60 minutes (enough to get through in 90 days). Faster if I stop subvocalizing (subvocalization: that voice in your head while reading). But my 5 chapters in 30 minutes isn’t from me.

The CHN plan says “By making a commitment of only twenty to thirty minutes a day, you can prayerfully read through the entire Bible and/or Catechism in one year!” And depending on where you are in the Bible, it amounts to 2 (Gen 27, Ps 18:31-51, Mt 11:16-30) to 8 (Micah, Sir 47:1-11, Lk 1:1-25) every day, the average being 3.6 (1334 chapters/365 days).

 

[pianistclare]

Okay, well I am a fast reader. 16 chapters in 45-60 minutes (enough to get through in 90 days). Faster if I stop subvocalizing (subvocalization: that voice in your head while reading). But my 5 chapters in 30 minutes isn’t from me.

The CHN plan says “By making a commitment of only twenty to thirty minutes a day, you can prayerfully read through the entire Bible and/or Catechism in one year!” And depending on where you are in the Bible, it amounts to 2 (Gen 27, Ps 18:31-51, Mt 11:16-30) to 8 (Micah, Sir 47:1-11, Lk 1:1-25) every day, the average being 3.6 (1334 chapters/365 days).

I know what subvocalization is. Thanks.
My point is, that merely reading the words may bless some people, but others may want to digest the words a bit more thoroughly.
If it works for you, great!
I guess I’m a slow learner.
I once asked the pastor if the teens should try memorizing the books of the bible in order as a challenge. He said it wasn’t a point of salvation. Ask them to read one book completely, and understand what the Church says about it. That would edify them more.
Different approach, but still worthy.

I guess the point of my post is that people jump in and say do this, do that…and I fear the person will just get all wound up believing that he’s praying wrong, or not enough. He’s already questioning. There are many options, but whatever is full of love, sincere, true, and humble, is the best prayer.
Peace to you, friend.

 

[Razanir]

I know what subvocalization is. Thanks.

Wasn’t trying to sound rude or condescending. I only recently learned that word, so I figured I’d include an explanation as a courtesy to all the posters, who may or may not know what it means (like 1-week-ago me)

My point is, that merely reading the words may bless some people, but others may want to digest the words a bit more thoroughly.
If it works for you, great!
I guess I’m a slow learner.

Yeah… It’s a combination of two factors for me. Not having read most of the Bible before and Catholic Memes being insane enough to think of a 90 day challenge. So part of it feels like playing catch up. After this, though, I definitely plan on going back through at a slower pace- taking an entire year. (CHN plan, altered to split the NT into Gospels and Other)

I once asked the pastor if the teens should try memorizing the books of the bible in order as a challenge. He said it wasn’t a point of salvation.

I can get everything except the order of the minor prophets. And I’m quite content taking a Judaism-inspired approach and just saying “And the 12” or similar.