Practicing the Presence of God, Meditation, and Prayer

[MariaRita5]

I’ve been wondering how to better practice God’s presence and meditate upon Jesus’ life. When I put myself in God’s presence, I simply say to myself, “God is ever present, He loves you, and He wants to speak with you.” I understand this on an intellectual level, but understanding this in my heart is more difficult. Does anyone else have trouble with this? How do you put yourself in God’s presence?

My other problem is that my imagination is useless. For example, if someone asks me to picture Christ’s crucifixion, the best that I can do is recall a flickering image of a crucifix I’ve seen before. If I try to picture Jesus, I might see an image of Him from a holy card for a second, and then it’s gone. Most of the time, when I try to imagine anything I draw a blank. I see nothing.

So when I’ve read that saints look at Jesus in their heart, I figure they’re talking about being able to picture Him. I’ve also read that in temptation, it’s sometimes best to “throw a look of love” at Our Lord rather than verbally praying to Him lest we anchor the suggestion deeper into our mind. I have no idea what this might mean other than picturing Him in my mind, which I can’t seem to do with much success. When I meditate on Scripture or the Rosary, I describe everything to myself in words and try to think about the virtues of those who were there. It’s all words, no pictures.

Is there anyone else who has this issue? How do you handle it?

Last question: I feel like most of my prayers are monologues rather than a dialogue. But if I stop talking for even a minute, I get distracted. How do I go from talking at God to talking with God? How do I just listen?

Sorry this post is so long. I thought about creating different topics, but all of these seem to go together.

 

[Brian_K]

Your post is excellent, so I’m glad it was long
I began reading Tears of an Innocent God by Br. Elias Marechal this morning and the book immediately came to mind a couple sentences into reading your post. I’m reading it slowly and pausing to reflect, and rather than try to “get through it” I’m sad that I have to come to the end of it at some point. If you care to pick up a copy it just might address exactly what you’re talking about.

And, well, it seems to me His Spirit must already be very close to someone who can say, “I’m having trouble finding God - can you all help?” But sometimes He’s so close that seeing Him is like trying to see the surface of our own eyes from the inside.

 

[MariaRita5]

I’ll pick that book up! Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Dorothy]

When I meditate on Scripture or the Rosary, I describe everything to myself in words and try to think about the virtues of those who were there. It’s all words, no pictures.

What you describe above sounds very good to me.

We are all different and may use different methods to focus on the Lord.

Also, we all struggle with distractions…be peaceful about that. As soon as you are aware you are distracted just go back to thinking of the loving Presence of our Lord.
That is choosing Him over the distraction! It takes practice, be patient with yourself.

 

[Tecnologgamer]

I don’t try to put scenes from the gospel in my mind, they vanishing quite easy from my mind to think nonsense, unfortunally my imagination is to weak and I start to think other, I just like to put faith’s truth in my mind while I pray the Rosary.