What impact does prayer have on my daily life?
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”
St. Therese of Lisieux (CCC-2558)
There is so much written that defines prayer. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Church defines prayer as the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. (CCC-2559) Prayer is a relationship, wherein we humbly communicate, worship, and sincerely seek God, knowing that He hears us and responds, though not always in a way we expect or desire.
This brings me to the question of today’s Connecting Point: Just how much impact does prayer have in our daily life? For me, prayer is interwoven into my daily activities. Depending on the circumstances, prayer is active throughout the day. Just a short acknowledgement of my need for God’s presence can be helpful in centering my mind by keeping focused on the need for God’s assistance. As Paul said, “pray continually.”
For others, prayer may be allocated to specific times during the day. Meditation is a form of prayer that helps a person understand God’s purpose in their life. Structured prayer, such as the rosary, novenas, or prayers asking the intervention of a particular Saint, may also help us develop our relationship with God.
How we pray and when we pray is a decision each of us makes for ourselves. St. Paul encourages us to pray constantly… always and for everything, giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
(1Thess 5:17)
-Deacon Tom Carter