How to pray?

[jp72]

I have rediscovered my Catholic faith around 4 months ago after being away from the Church for many years. Since then I have not missed a mass and have been the best I can to be in the good graces of the Father and our Lord Jesus. I have slipped here and there but thanks to confession I feel my faith is growing everyday.

My problem is daily prayer. I don’t pray every day because I think I don’t know how to do it correctly. I usually start out with an Act of Contrition, an Our Father and either a Hail Mary or a Glory Be. However, from there it all falls apart. I really don’t know what to say. I feel praying for me or my family is selfish and I usually pray for others. However, my prayer sounds to me like nonsensical rambling. By the end of it I feel I messed the whole thing up and I quit.
So my question is how do you pray? Is there a routine that you follow? Am I focusing too hard on what I am trying to say in my prayer? Do you have any suggestions for me?

Thanks

 

[poetryforjesus]

Don’t worry too much about it. Just persist in doing what you can and it will get more comfortable. If you don’t know what to say, perhaps do more vocal prayers. The Rosary is always helpful and actually it is the most powerful prayer ever. So why not start learning the Rosary?

 

[baltobetsy]

It’s wonderful that you’ve come back!

About your prayer - don’t feel you must be talking the whole time. Prayer is an intimate conversation with God. Conversation means both parties talk and both parties listen. It’s OK - more than OK - to listen quietly for God.

One thing that might help you is to use the Gospels to help you pray. You can read a short passage, imagining yourself right there in the scene and see what it says to you and about your life.

Another way is the ACTS formula. The letters stand for Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication. First, spend some time praising and adoring God - maybe you could find a Psalm that helps you - Psalm 100 and 150 are good to start. Then express your sorrow for your sins and see if you can make specific resolutions to do better in those areas. Next, find some things to thank God for. Finally, ask Him for your needs, your family’s needs and the needs of others. It is not selfish to pray for yourself and your family, especially when your prayer is that God’s will be done in your lives.

I suggest you try using the Magnificat magazine. It has, for every day of the year, morning prayer, Mass with its readings, and evening prayer. It also has a short reading from a Saint or other writer for each day. It’s a good way to have some structure in your prayer life. You can also prepare for Sunday Mass ahead of time if you have the readings.

Hope this helps. Please don’t stress about it. Just spend time in the company of the One you love!

Betsy

 

[Bible_Catholic]

Jesus gave us the outline:

Our Father who art in Heaven – He’s our daddy. Speak to Him like you would a loving father
Hallowed be thy name – He’s Holy, tell Him you know, and agree.
Thy kingdom come – we are subjects in His kingdom, and He’s a good king.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven – No matter what we pray for, ultimately it’s His will, whether we agree or not.
Give us this day our daily bread – We should ask for what we need on a daily basis.
Forgive us our trespass – confess, repent, repeat
As we forgive those who trespass against us – pray for your enemies.
Lead us not into temptation – pray that you are not tempted to sin.
And deliver us from evil – pray that if you are tempted, He give you the strength to resist.

 

[beckycmarie]

jp,

Welcome home! You might like this little book by Peter Kreeft, Prayer for Beginners. You can read much of it online at the link below:

Prayer for Beginners

 

[RSD]

Remember that there are several different sorts of prayer. Think of your best friend. You probably talk with this friend about several different things, and in different ways. You can talk to your friend in a light-hearted manner, about something that just happened. You can talk with your friend about something serious that is bothering you. You can let you friend know when you don’t know what to say, you just need to have your friend there at the time. Because your friend cares about you, and knows you, you don’t have to find exactly the right words, exactly the right moment, exactly the right tone. You just talk to your friend.

Jesus is your best friend.

Don’t worry about telling Him things He already knows. He likes to hear it from you, because He likes for you to come and spend time with him.

Don’t forget about listening. This is an important part of prayer that is often neglected.

A very short prayer which I use frequently is “OH GOD, HELP” Sometimes abbreviated further as “OH GOD” He listens.