How to Stop Viewing Prayer as a Boring Chore?

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This is something I struggle greatly with and I want to stop. Recently I have begun praying more again (first thing when I wake up, a rosary, and essentially the same exact prayers I said in the morning before going to bed. Also some assorted random prayers throughout the day.) However, praying just feels like a hideous chore. I want to do it out of faith to God, but when I pray I can’t help constantly checking my watch getting eager to finish the prayers.

What are some tips on making prayer less of a grindy chore and something more meaningful? Thanks! 👍
 
Periods, even long and extended periods, of dryness in our spiritual life are not uncommon. The best part of your prayer during this time is offering your gift of perseverance in prayer despite lack of consolations (good feelings from God).

Faith is not a feeling and we should not look to our feelings as accurate guides for our spiritual journey. Better guides come in the form of growth in virtue, especially charity towards others.

Feelings should not be our motivators in prayer or other religious practice. If feelings motivated Jesus He would not have said, in the garden, ‘Your Will be done’…He would have stopped His prayer at ‘let this cup pass me by.’
 
Sometimes praying IS a chore. It sometimes comes down to a matter of persistence and or patience. Generally, saints did not become saints overnight. and spend many years in prayer seeking and communicating with God.

Prayer is communicating with God. It is conversing with God. God is forever patient with us. Think of Jesus in the Garden on the night of His betrayal. How hard that must have been for Him, but He didn’t give up even 'though the Apostles slept. It must have been much more than a “chore” for Him, yet He persisted, took a small moment to chide the Apostles for sleeping on the job. He went right back to praying-communing with the Father.

Because we are human… and for the most part…far from being saints on a daily basis, your intent and effort do count as prayer. Don’t think of prayer as rote or formulated prayers, but there is nothing at all wrong with that, but try to advance occ. to Conversations with God. You talk to your Mother and Father, don’t you? Talk to God/Jesus, too

I think I suggested that you keep a prayer journal. Do you? If prayer is difficult for you…write a little letter to God each day. Keep it under lock and key if you must, as people have done with their “Dear Diarys” in the past. You might think it is juvenile, but it isn’t. You will be surprised how well your spiritual life can progress.

I must admit and am always sorry for it, that sometimes you aggravate the dickens out of me, but upon reflection I know you are trying and I should show more patience with you. forgive me, if you will. Peace and prayers. MEB
 
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fiftytwo said:
Watch Sid Roth its supernatural it will make you desire spiritual manifestations. That is why God started the program.it has inspired millions of people. Teaching how to function in the keys to the kingdom
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Please clarify Thanks
 
Mary_Ellen said:
Periods, even long and extended periods, of dryness in our spiritual life are not uncommon. The best part of your prayer during this time is offering your gift of perseverance in prayer despite lack of consolations (good feelings from God).

Faith is not a feeling and we should not look to our feelings as accurate guides for our spiritual journey. Better guides come in the form of growth in virtue, especially charity towards others.

Feelings should not be our motivators in prayer or other religious practice. If feelings motivated Jesus He would not have said, in the garden, ‘Your Will be done’…He would have stopped His prayer at ‘let this cup pass me by.’
Click to expand...
Feelings
Are a result of praying out of your "natural"mind but if u pray written scripture G0d will anoint his word above his name
 
fiftytwo said:
Feelings
Are a result of praying out of your "natural"mind but if u pray written scripture G0d will anoint his word above his name
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I tend to think that feeling or emotions ARE important in prayer life if directed to a better prayer. We are not robots. We “think” and emotions and feelings do drive us. It is the way God made us and part of our complex selves. We are not just blank pages nor were never meant to be.

Jesus showed His emotions and feelings when He sweat blood and tears in The Garden on the night of His betrayal. For us-frail humans that we are-emotions can guide us to the church or from the church. Before there was Scripture or the Gospels, there was the Old Testament, full of emotions, feelings, fire and glory and a fair amt. of “gorey,” too. The OT guided us to the NT. Neither one said we should not or could not pray with emotions or feelings. P. S. I have-did-study the OT and the NT-formally and informally so please don’t jump all over me. Peace.
 
Melodeonist said:
What are some tips on making prayer less of a grindy chore and something more meaningful? Thanks! 👍
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Who says prayer has to be “standard” things someone else made up?

Write your own prayers in a journal.
Try silent non verbal prayer.
Pray through art and music.
 
Melodeonist said:
This is something I struggle greatly with and I want to stop. Recently I have begun praying more again (first thing when I wake up, a rosary, and essentially the same exact prayers I said in the morning before going to bed. Also some assorted random prayers throughout the day.) However, praying just feels like a hideous chore. I want to do it out of faith to God, but when I pray I can’t help constantly checking my watch getting eager to finish the prayers.

What are some tips on making prayer less of a grindy chore and something more meaningful? Thanks! 👍
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I am sure this is bad advice but this is what I would do. Stop saying the rosary. Try anything else. Meditative prayer - the Jesus Prayer - or just pray to God free flow, stream of consciousness, as if he were sitting in the room, which is really happening anyway, right. God is always present, omnipresent, omniscient. Whether you are praying or not. Explain the situation: Open your heart instead of doing the rosary. What you want of him, expect of him, want and expect of yourself. Work the rosary back in when you can do it meaningfully. Repetitive prayer does have value, but I see it as a form of meditation almost. (another one to try is to stop all thought of any kind, literally. Long as possible. Be in God’s light or night - depending on who you read. This one is very good. The rosary becomes easier. St. John of the Cross, the mystics) I think you should pray to God in many different ways, different times of the day, different ways for different issues in your life, joy, sadness, fear, loss, triumph, sickness, health, etc. etc etc. I see God as my life’s source, core, end. Prayer should be done in love, thankfulness that freely flows. If your wheel is in too deep, dry a rut, you can’t get down the road, right? Try another (orthodox) road.
 
If that’s the way you feel about prayer, maybe you should pray less. Recall the words of Jesus, “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Look for other ways to communicate with God. Look for other ways to spend your time with God. Carry out his work here on earth, according to your special interests and talents. Become more aware of the people around you, and find ways to serve (or help) them. Take time to appreciate the beauty and wonder of life and of all creation.

Also don’t spend so much of your time on entertainment and “social” media. I think the instant fingertip availability of these kinds of activities, and the immediate gratification they give, makes ordinary things seem “boring.” Minute by minute, they steal our life away from us. Choose real life.
 
catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/03/24/how-an-ignatian-retreat-can-change-your-brain/
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Researchers in America found that Ignatian spiritual exercises affected the brain’s ‘feel-good’ systems
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After morning Mass, the people on retreat spent the majority of the day in silence, with prayer and reflection, and met daily with a spiritual director.
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Participants revealed a significant positive change in health, tension and tiredness and reported feelings of self-transcendence which researchers belief correlates with the rise in dopamine levels.
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Just saw this. I do agree that meditative prayers have benefits. Even as little as twenty minutes a day. Silent prayer. I think the results are produced by connecting with God, but whatever.
 
Melodeonist said:
This is something I struggle greatly with and I want to stop. Recently I have begun praying more again (first thing when I wake up, a rosary, and essentially the same exact prayers I said in the morning before going to bed. Also some assorted random prayers throughout the day.) However, praying just feels like a hideous chore. I want to do it out of faith to God, but when I pray I can’t help constantly checking my watch getting eager to finish the prayers.

What are some tips on making prayer less of a grindy chore and something more meaningful? Thanks! 👍
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When I’m praying I put on a video on my computer of the Passion of Christ … with the audio turned off … keeps me focused.
 
Most of the helpful responses are good. I agree that the Rosary could be set aside for a couple times per week or even not at all at times. It is a private devotion and no one will shoot you if you are not comfortable with it yet. Remember that he is “new” and has a tendency to go whole hog for religion=spirituality. This is not uncommon. He is still finding his feet in the church. I don’t think he is quite ready for deep meditation just yet or to empty his mind, but he will be. It just takes time. Some can dive right in and swim with the sharks and some of us have to do the doggie paddle in our quest and journey to God.

I have resolved to be kinder and try to be more helpful with him because I know he is trying. Peace.
 
Don’t give up. The devil hate the rosary. This is one of the most powerful weapon on earth. It even beat nuclear bomb. Do your research and see for yourself.

Hang in there, resist temptation to set this aside and persevere. If anything pray the Blessed Mother that she obtains for you the necessary graces to continue this prayer.

Prayer is water for our soul, without prayer it is spiritual death.

All the best!
 
Melodeonist said:
This is something I struggle greatly with and I want to stop. Recently I have begun praying more again (first thing when I wake up, a rosary, and essentially the same exact prayers I said in the morning before going to bed. Also some assorted random prayers throughout the day.) However, praying just feels like a hideous chore. I want to do it out of faith to God, but when I pray I can’t help constantly checking my watch getting eager to finish the prayers.

What are some tips on making prayer less of a grindy chore and something more meaningful? Thanks!

👍/QUOTE
Yes a strategy. To try is fr. John harden :Marian cathasist
It is 7 things to do daily to develop a piasos spelling (righteous) life style. It takes being self absorbed but religious. To a new level . it is approved by the pope and was developed for mother terisa and her ministry
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Some people pray while walking. It gives you a change of scenery.

Changing the place where you pray might also help.
 
Do you pray alone, or with your family? If you pray alone, invite your family or friends to pray with you…one idea.
 
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