Praying, Intentions and Focus

[Kat127]

Hello,

I am starting to reintroduce daily prayer into my life after several years of neglecting my duty. I could use some insight on a couple of questions I have.

From the little bit I’ve read I know we normally offer up intentions. My problem is my thoughts just fly all over the page. I think of personal problems, then feel bad for being so petty and start thinking of friends and family. After a while I realize I’m not being thankful enough for what God has given me, then I start focusing on how sorry I am for my sins. I also feel so scattered brained because I feel I can’t focus. Is it ok to offer multiple intentions?

I know we are allowed to ask for help but I can’t shake the feeling that all my prayers should be focused on thanksgiving to God and remorse for my wrongdoing. Anyone else feel like this?

I also tend to let part of my mind mull over things while I pray. I also feel the thoughts and ideas I got from this practice came from God. But I’ve read other places you are suppose to quiet your mind and listen to God and not be distracted. So am I wrong to think the ideas come from God? Should I just try to focus on keeping my mind settled?

I’m sorry if these seem like very basic questions (or very nit-picking ones). I just feel I am not praying enough or giving my prayers enough reverence.

Kat

 

[JRKH]

No need for apologies. The things that you mention are very - very - very common.

I would suggest to anyone getting back into prayer to take the “Our Father” as their start and guide. Pray it slowly and consider each piece (I have it divided into 5 sections).
Look at how Christ has it set up

• Praise God,
• Call for the Kingdom and His Will in the World
• Ask only for what we need.
• Ask forgivness in proprotion to how we forgive
• Ask protection from evil

As for you mind wandering etc. Try to take a few minutes at the start to calm your mind and to relax… Perhaps pray a decade or two fo the rosary.

Peace
James

 

[Deedledum]

Hi Kat,

What JRKH said is very good advise. I too will use it! . I just wanted to say that I have days when I to get the ‘wanders’. So what I do is just talk to the Lord. Just regular conversation like you and I would have. He likes when we do this because it shows Him that we love Him enough to want to keep Him involved in ‘all’ of the details.
I find myself doing this a lot during the day now. Asking about this or that, telling Him I’m sorry, I messed that up or whatever. The point being is that by doing so, we stay in communion with Him and that’s what He wants most. Then, when it comes time to really get down to some serious prayer, it won’t be so hard to focus.

Hope this helped,
Deedledum

 

[JRKH]

Hi Kat,

What JRKH said is very good advise. I too will use it! . I just wanted to say that I have days when I to get the ‘wanders’. So what I do is just talk to the Lord. Just regular conversation like you and I would have. He likes when we do this because it shows Him that we love Him enough to want to keep Him involved in ‘all’ of the details.
I find myself doing this a lot during the day now. Asking about this or that, telling Him I’m sorry, I messed that up or whatever. The point being is that by doing so, we stay in communion with Him and that’s what He wants most. Then, when it comes time to really get down to some serious prayer, it won’t be so hard to focus.

Hope this helped,
Deedledum

 

[Claire_from_DE]

I guarantee that people who say they don’t have distractions when they pray, just aren’t praying. It probably happens to all of us some of the time and some of us all the time, especially when we’re beginning.

The prayer group I attend structures its meeting into three parts: praise, silence, and petitions. So at one point in your prayer time maybe you could tell God that for this short time you’d just like to praise and thank Him. Then for another few minutes tell Him about your needs and those of your family and friends. He already knows but He likes us to ask. Then for another few minutes you might read scripture to see if God wants to speak to you in some way.

At the beginning of your prayer time, try to quiet your mind and put yourself in the presence of God. Ask Him to help you pray.

Every effort is prayer, even when you’re distracted.

 

[baltobetsy]

Another orderly way to conduct one’s personal prayer is using the formula: ACTS. The letters stand for
Adoration - praising God for Who He is and for His goodness
Contrition - a bit of examination of conscience and expression of sorrow for sin
Thanksgiving - recalling God’s blessings to you and giving thanks for them
Supplication.- asking for your needs and the needs of others

Hope this helps.

Betsy

 

[Deedledum]

Another orderly way to conduct one’s personal prayer is using the formula: ACTS. The letters stand for
Adoration - praising God for Who He is and for His goodness
Contrition - a bit of examination of conscience and expression of sorrow for sin
Thanksgiving - recalling God’s blessings to you and giving thanks for them
Supplication.- asking for your needs and the needs of others

Hope this helps.

Betsy

oooh, Betsy! That is such a good one . Thanks for sharing that, I will definitely put that to good use and share with others

 

[Kat127]

Thank you for all the help! It makes me feel a lot better to know it isn’t just me!

I’ll try some of these things tonight and see if it doesn’t help.

I do remember as a kid I seemed to always talk to God during the day…but I guess I got out of the habit somewhere- time to start up again.

Thank you again!

Kat