Yet Another Ridiculous Prayer Question

[JChapel]

I tend to lean a little on the side of OCD, so bear with me.

One thing that has really been bothering me lately is when I (unintentionally) yawn while praying. It just feels… extremely disrespectful, to do such a thing when I’m talking to God. Granted, I’ve gotten into the habit of apologizing after I slip, but this sort of thing has become a borderline compulsion, debatably distancing myself from God. How can I better handle this?

 

[marica_mandic]

I tend to lean a little on the side of OCD, so bear with me.

One thing that has really been bothering me lately is when I (unintentionally) yawn while praying. It just feels… extremely disrespectful, to do such a thing when I’m talking to God. Granted, I’ve gotten into the habit of apologizing after I slip, but this sort of thing has become a borderline compulsion, debatably distancing myself from God. How can I better handle this?

Try to intentionally yawn before your pray. I think that is some psychological element.

 

[roveau]

I get this mostly at the beginning of the rosary. I always seem to have to yawn once or twice during the first few prayers. I suppress the yawn as best I can. The technique is to clench the teeth until the urge passes… my eyes water when I do this. It shows the Lord that you are making an effort.

The suggestion above may help too or just by taking a number of deep breaths before you start and try to recollect what you are trying to pray and to Whom you are praying… and clench those teeth as the yawn tries to express itself.

 

[jazzbaby1]

It’s not ridiculous and I get where you’re coming from. A yawn is just a way for your brain to get more oxygen and blood flow. The thing about seeming bored when you yawn is from etiquette, not God. And St. Therese the Little Flower used to regularly fall asleep while saying the rosary…she made a practice of asking her guardian angel to finish it for her.

 

[Madeline616]

Hi James,

Your question is not ridiculous, but just remember that yawning is just a neuromuscular arousal reflex and a natural bodily function…created by the Lord .

When we relax and enter prayerful meditation, sometimes we yawn. It’s okay-- He loves you, and all of your functions, and my guess is that you are all the more precious in His eyes because you love Him so much and are concerned that you might show Him disrespect by seeming bored or tired during prayer.

A practical solution might be to say the prayers that require the most focus, or those that you associate with the yawning, during the time of day when you’re naturally most awake. I’m a morning person and pray “best” in the morning.

 

[thirddec]

Every night when I start the rosary about 2 mins in I always need to pass a force 9 gale from the rear end. I have decided that this is natural ( for me at least ) and if i spend the rest of my prayer time just holding on my prayerfullness is hampered so I just let rip

I’m hoping God has a sense of humour

I apologise of course and hope God will understand likewise I take the same track on Itches that may arise and refuse to go.

I hope that none of you delicate readers think worse of me for this admission

 

[puzzleannie]

I tend to lean a little on the side of OCD, so bear with me.

One thing that has really been bothering me lately is when I (unintentionally) yawn while praying. It just feels… extremely disrespectful, to do such a thing when I’m talking to God. ?

God does not care, but the devil loves to use such unconsequential things to distract us from prayer. Brush him away as you would a fly. You might, if it helps you, change your posture, walk around or whatever, but yawning is a natural human reaction like blushing or burping, part of the way we are created. Forget it.

 

[praxising]

Hi James,

Your question is not ridiculous, but just remember that yawning is just a neuromuscular arousal reflex and a natural bodily function…created by the Lord .

**When we relax and enter prayerful meditation, sometimes we yawn. **It’s okay-- He loves you, and all of your functions, and my guess is that you are all the more precious in His eyes because you love Him so much and are concerned that you might show Him disrespect by seeming bored or tired during prayer…

This^^^. I was thinking it is a sign that you are fully engaged and therefore, a nice sign of your state of devotion. There’s nothing to fix, you get to be as God created you, human.