As we increase our efforts to give more time to God during Lent, most of us become aware of our inadequacies in prayer. This can put us off because we think our prayer is 'ineffective'. Nothing could be further from the truth - and it is the truth that will set you free.
Some of us may feel that we don't have the words for prayer, we just don't know what to say. Others may be struggling with distractions all the while. Still others may feel so tired that prayer can seem to be a chore. Take heart. Even the greatest of saints have felt that way. This is what the late Basil, Cardinal Hume had to say about his prayer time:
'Quite often I go to pray and find it difficult to concentrate on God. In my head there is a succession of thoughts and images, and most are quite irreligious. It occurred to me that I should invite God to come and sit by my side. Then I would say to him "all those thoughts and images that are rushing through my mind, I ask you to watch them with me". And so these images and thoughts become my prayer because I have asked Him to watch them with me. It doesn't make coping with distractions any easier. I just try to say a quick word to God: "Help me to bring you into my confused thoughts"…If I learn to take my distraction to God, then I get into the habit of bringing God into my daily life.' (Hume, Basil Cardinal, Basil in Blunderland, Darton Longman Todd, London, 1997).
If the problem, therefore, is distraction - confide in God, and let him into your daily life. If the difficulty is finding something to say, or finding the right words - sit quietly and listen to God, and let his wisdom fill you. If you are just tired and weary, with no energy to pray - just rest in God and let him refresh you.
Some of us may feel that we don't have the words for prayer, we just don't know what to say. Others may be struggling with distractions all the while. Still others may feel so tired that prayer can seem to be a chore. Take heart. Even the greatest of saints have felt that way. This is what the late Basil, Cardinal Hume had to say about his prayer time:
'Quite often I go to pray and find it difficult to concentrate on God. In my head there is a succession of thoughts and images, and most are quite irreligious. It occurred to me that I should invite God to come and sit by my side. Then I would say to him "all those thoughts and images that are rushing through my mind, I ask you to watch them with me". And so these images and thoughts become my prayer because I have asked Him to watch them with me. It doesn't make coping with distractions any easier. I just try to say a quick word to God: "Help me to bring you into my confused thoughts"…If I learn to take my distraction to God, then I get into the habit of bringing God into my daily life.' (Hume, Basil Cardinal, Basil in Blunderland, Darton Longman Todd, London, 1997).
If the problem, therefore, is distraction - confide in God, and let him into your daily life. If the difficulty is finding something to say, or finding the right words - sit quietly and listen to God, and let his wisdom fill you. If you are just tired and weary, with no energy to pray - just rest in God and let him refresh you.
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