How Hard Do I Need to Pray?

Faith 

“Prayer unites us to Christ in a communion such that He lives in us. It is inseparable from the transformed life which is its fruit.” — Echoing the Mystery 61:2 

Prayer unites us with Christ in a communion. When we think about prayer, it is common to first view it like this: How hard do I need to pray to get God to answer my prayer? Or change His mind? We can also live in a place of pleasing or appeasing Him so that everything will turn out okay. 

While it is understandable why we can approach prayer from this perspective, I propose another way. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” This stillness means a place of silence and joining ourselves with Christ in prayer. Practically, it can be finding a quiet place, unplugging, and selecting a Scripture passage to read slowly. 

From this still point of grace, you can ask the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray and join in the communion of the Father and the Son. Keep it simple, and don’t overthink the process. You will soon discover that the fruit of this quiet time is that you have changed.

Spot the Virtue 

Moderation, a virtue related to temperance, aids us in maintaining a healthy and wholesome balance in our life. What is essential to keep in mind is that what is balanced are goods and goods are necessary to live. We have innate desires and emotions that should be governed by right reason (prudence). What is challenging is that we experience pleasure in using these goods, which can be either in excess or a defect. Moderation helps us partake in essential goods for our overall well-being and holiness. 

I encourage you daily to assess how you live this balance in your life, as it naturally impacts everything else you do. The season of Lent is an especially great time to evaluate this balance. 

     Name: Benny, I noticed you took only one cookie during our celebration. 

     Explain: I know you would have liked to have had more, but you practiced moderation. 

     Express: Thank you for being an example to the rest of the class. 

 Spot the virtue in one person this week. 

Prayer 

Read the following passages:  

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” — Mark 1:35-37 

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. — Luke 6:12 

Where can you focus and be alone with God? Why is a quiet place necessary?