How can I find time to pray?

Onesimus

So.....do we lead sloppy prayer lives? I know I do. I don't pray as much as I should and spend more time ''talking about'' Jesus than actually ''talking to'' Jesus. No matter what we lay people do in our lives we can always at least find time for 10 minutes of prayer. Sometimes I try but I find it hard. It's important for my soul to Imitate Christ and go to that quiet place to quieten the soul but I so often fail at it big time.

If you are finding it hard to get time to pray consider the following advice from RCspiritual direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOLzW2w97I

totus tuus

Just what I needed, thanks for posting!

lmaopml

St. Augustine says that one can pray constantly, that prayer is the 'groaning' and 'desire' within to have communion with God, it's the Spirit within praying - He is speaking of St. Paul who asks us to pray always....and what that constitutes sometimes.

That one can pray in this way all day long when we understand that our constant desire for God is a prayer, even if we can't always express it during a time of prayer, that you can pray quite literally all day long...

Obviously, it's also good to pray with others in communion too...!

And who observed and noticed the cause of his groaning? All my desire is in front of you. It cannot be before men because they cannot see the heart, but still the psalm says all my desire is in front of you. If your desire is laid before him then the Father, who sees in secret, will grant it to you.

For that very desire of your heart is your prayer; and if your desire continues uninterrupted, then so does your prayer. It was not in vain that the Apostle said Pray without ceasing. Can we be always bending the knee, prostrating the body, or lifting up our hands, that he says Pray without ceasing? If that is what prayer means then I say that we cannot do it without ceasing.

There is another inward kind of prayer without ceasing, which is the desire of the heart. Whatever activity you happen to be engaged in are doing, if you only long for that Sabbath then you do not cease to pray. If you do not want to pause in prayer then never pause in your longing.

Your continuous desire is your continuous prayer. If you cease to desire than you will have fallen silent in your prayer. Who are those who have fallen silent? Those of whom it is said Because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold.


So don't beat yourself up too much - you are praying sometimes just by being aware that your best day to day companion is Christ, and having an internal dialogue with that in mind.

Onesimus

This is very good lmao thank you. I think also that we still need to take at least 2 minutes of silence a day. In the Gospel Jesus goes off to a quiet place to pray or into the mountains. He didn't do that all day every day but it does give emphasis on the importance of ''going away from the crowd'' where possible.

Very nice advice on the constant prayer though thank you but as noted we need balance of both these things don't we?.

lmaopml

Onesimus wrote: »

This is very good lmao thank you. I think also that we still need to take at least 2 minutes of silence a day. In the Gospel Jesus goes off to a quiet place to pray or into the mountains. He didn't do that all day every day but it does give emphasis on the importance of ''going away from the crowd'' where possible.

Very nice advice on the constant prayer though thank you but as noted we need balance of both these things don't we?.

Indeed, we imitate him by withdrawing from the noise together in communion!

Onesimus

lmaopml wrote: »

Indeed, we imitate him by withdrawing from the noise together in communion!

I was thinking more or less my bedroom haha, but yes thats a nice way of putting it too.

ShamrockLady

I think it's simpler praying all day long. Keep in constant communication with God. It's nice to have some quiet time but unless a person lives alone without a spouse, kids and pets, it's difficult, even in the bathroom.

God appreciates us praying no matter how we do it.