Sunlight shining reddish-orange light through a cloud

Practical Tips on Prayer

By: Sister Jeannine Marie, O.C.D.

St. Paul exhorts us to: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Whoa, you mean me? In this busy fast-paced world? Prayer may seem impossible at times but perhaps it is the lens we are looking through. Let’s clean the glasses and take another look!

• Think of prayer more like breathing rather than filing in a cabinet. Prayer, like breathing, should be natural, almost unconscious. Everything we do is a prayer to God for “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Offer all to Him first thing in the morning, and then just breathe!

• Find your place! That quiet corner of the den or the chair on the deck that looks out into nature. It is good for at least 15 minutes of our day to make a deliberate “stop.” We all need to be energized – what better way than to speak to God.

• Sum it all up! At night before you retire, take a few minutes with God to go over your day. Be real. Be open. It is good to refocus and redirect our intentions. We have such a loving God—soak it in, then fall asleep!

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