S l o w i n g d o w n to pray

[tomch]

I sure love these forums! I can ask any stupid question I want, and nobody thinks I’m an idiot! (at least they don’t admit it… yet…)

I’m reading a great book by Peter Kreeft called “Prayer for Beginners”. He advises us to “Stop, Look, and Listen” when we pray.

Here’s where I’m having trouble… STOPPING is very difficult for me. My mind is going so fast that it’s a challenge to even thoroughly read his book… I find myself “skimming” all the time. I have a fast-paced job, a busy home life, and everything is moving so fast. I’ve been “making time” to quietly meditate, but my mind is still going 90 mph.

Obviously, this is going to get easier the more I try, but I was wondering if anyone out there had any good tips that work for them. How do you slow down enough to “hear” what God wants to tell you?

Many thanks!
Tom

p.s. It took me 47 seconds to type this! (just kidding…)

 

[dulcissima]

I can relate. My priest recommended adoration. By going and spending a half an hour or an hour with our Lord, with no distractions, I find that I am finally able to relax, pray, and listen. I also like that the adoration chapel has a nice library of spiritual titles to read while I am there. Typically I will go and say a personal prayer, read for a little bit (currently reading The Secrets of the Rosary by Saint Louis de Montfort), pray the rosary, then say another personal prayer. I find it is nice to set aside some time to really slow down and just be with God.

 

[water]

How do you slow down enough to “hear” what God wants to tell you?

Well, even if you can get very slow, you might hear His answer 20 years later.
I think the main key is to pay attention to what we pray. For instance, when you pray the rosary, if you pray so fast as you remember the prayer, you don’t really meditate on it. Pray slowly enough that you can pay attention to each word and its meaning.

If you have a daily devotion praying book, you can use that. Normally, each day you mediate on a single topic - that is enough for you to think of.

Or…you can read a little passage of the Bible, and think about it throughout the day - during break at work, etc … and pray God to help you understand how this passage can be applied to you to some situation in the past, now, and the future.