How to pray?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Binto
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Binto

Guest
Hey everybody! :cool:

I was just hoping for a little advice here. I’m 19, and, for the first time in my life, am trying to take my faith seriously. My priest told me that the foundation for the spiritual life is prayer. I have no problem with set prayers like the rosary and nightly intentions. However, when I try to casually talk to God at any time of the day, like when I’m walking to class, or am driving, I feel really awkward and weird. I don’t know, it’s like I can’t find the right mindset or really don’t know what to say. I can’t seem to speak from the heart, it’s like I feel unworthy or something. I just can’t do it. :confused: It might be that I just don’t know what to pray for, or it could be a result of the stigma in society that prayer is “lame”.

I was just hoping some of you veterans out there could give me some advice on how to ease into a healthy prayer life, cuz I’m sure at least some of you have been where I am now. lol

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to respond! If I’m not making sense, I’ll be happy to post more!

God bless!!
-Pat
 
Hi Pat - fellow Irish Catholic here. 🙂

Good for you for making the decision to take your faith seriously! I’m sure God is pleased with your will to grow in holiness.

Prayer is of elementary importance to one’s spiritual life; there are so many saints who have specifically said this. I think most people start off with the ‘fixed’ prayers that we all know: the ‘Our Father’, ‘Hail Mary’, ‘Glory Be’ and so on. What you could do is take one of those prayers - the ‘Our Father’, for instance - and meditate on each line. Turn it over in your head and consider to Whom you are praying, and the meaning behind each line. We should always try to focus on what we are saying when we pray these fixed prayers (although with the Rosary, we can meditate on the Mysteries for each decade as we pray the 'Hail Mary’s).

I also strongly recommend the use of aspirations. These are brief prayers that can be said in a breath or so. Prayers like “Jesus, Mary, I love You, save souls”, or “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”, or “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done”, and so on. You might find yourself making up ones of your own as you go along.

I heartily recommend reading up what the Catechism says on prayer and what the saints have to say, especially the Doctors of the Church (e.g., Saints Tereas of Avila, John of the Cross, Alphonsus Liguori, Thérèse of Liseux…) - I’m learning tons from them.

Feel free to send me a PM if you like. May God bless you and your efforts! 😃
 
There have been times when it was awkward for me to talk to God. Looking back I started by talking to my Guardian Angel (Still do) all the time. When I was driving I would talk to Saint Christopher. Ask him to be my co-pilot, keep me safe, especially at night and bad weather. I know he has helped me many times. Whenever I say the Rosary, I ask the Communion of Saints to join in the Rosary. I envision all these Saints praying to our Mother and Jesus with me. I look forward to the day when I can actually see them and thank them face to face for all the time they were there to say the Rosary. One of my best friends is Padre Pio. I have had some good times with him. For example I’ll be watching a hockey game and my team needs help. I’ll say , “Pio its time to put on your skates .” Sometimes he’s good, sometimes not so good. The above examples I know are how it began for me.
Also, I talk to Our Blessed Mother. I ask her to talk to God for me. Many times I hear her say, I will and I do intercede for you but you should to talk to him. His is your Father, He loves you and He wants you to talk to Him.
Today I find talking to Jesus easier. Each time it gets better. There are times when the conversation (back and forth) is very clear. If I have a question, I don’t always get an answer right away but eventually He answers me.
Keep praying. You are in my thoughts and prayers. (I just sent my Guardian Angel to say hello to your Guardian Angel)
God Bless,
 
Thanks guys!! This really helps. All of it is very insightful indeed. I will put it into practice. THank u=you so much for your prayers! I really appreciate it!
 
Binto said:
Hey everybody! :cool:

I was just hoping for a little advice here. I’m 19, and, for the first time in my life, am trying to take my faith seriously. My priest told me that the foundation for the spiritual life is prayer. I have no problem with set prayers like the rosary and nightly intentions. However, when I try to casually talk to God at any time of the day, like when I’m walking to class, or am driving, I feel really awkward and weird. I don’t know, it’s like I can’t find the right mindset or really don’t know what to say. I can’t seem to speak from the heart, it’s like I feel unworthy or something. I just can’t do it. :confused: It might be that I just don’t know what to pray for, or it could be a result of the stigma in society that prayer is “lame”.

I was just hoping some of you veterans out there could give me some advice on how to ease into a healthy prayer life, cuz I’m sure at least some of you have been where I am now. lol

Thank you guys so much for taking the time to respond! If I’m not making sense, I’ll be happy to post more!

God bless!!
-Pat
Click to expand...
I’m trying to do this as well, which is very difficult, because I’m good with routines but I struggle to start one, so I usually pray when I feel like it, but not as often as I’d like or need.

I would recommend that you start with the Prayer Intentions forum on this site. It’s a very easy way to begin making a habit. Before you discuss in forums, promise to pray on the behalf of a certain amount of people. I tend to pick out the threads that don’t have a lot of responses yet.

You could also pray before you go to sleep; it doesn’t matter if you use with a formal prayer or with a spontaneous prayer, as long as you get in to a habit of doing so.
 
Praying from the heart will get easier for you the more you do it. Just keep doing it … even ask God to help you pray better. Peace!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top