If you are fortunate enough to be able to make time each day for prayer (I know, it can be a challenge, but you really should), you may fall into a trap that I found myself in this morning: instead of using it to joyfully, faithfully speak with God, you actually use it as a time to sit and stew in your worries. Prayer, to begin with, should look much like gratitude (here’s an article I wrote about it: Gratitude is a Prayer.) Even prayer that is just all asking for things, without the worry, misses the mark just a bit. But using the whole time to worry? Get behind me, Satan!
Here’s what I mean: those of us who are doers may tend to, unintentionally, measure our prayer by how much we “get” out of it. Did I pray long enough, hard enough? Did I name every little intention? Did it “feel” like prayer? And from there flows a sort of vanity about prayer: I prayed for my children, so I’ve “done” something, and God will hear. I sat here for a good long while! So it must count. Good for me.
Worrying is similar. Why do we worry? Does it, as Jesus asked, add a minute to our lives? No, and probably the stress lessens the length of our lives. But it does make us feel like we’re doing something. Worry-as-prayer gives a sense of control, as all worry does. As long as I sit and think and worry, at least I’m addressing it…
Don’t give in to that temptation. The harder and more radical thing is to truly believe God is near, he hears your prayers, and that He is in control. It is much harder to give it all back to Him. Prayer time is so special: just you and your Creator, in a loving embrace, with the Holy Spirit facilitating the whole thing. I was taught during the 19th annotation that you begin your prayer by saying something along the lines of, “I believe you are here, Lord,” as you start the prayer time. Then you can much easily get into that receptive frame of mind; that thine will be done, not mine, mode. To believe that it is God who answers prayers, not that we change things by sheer will of our mind and worry. It may take time to turn things over to God that way - it’s kind of the work of a lifetime - but as in all things, you can ask for God’s grace to do so. Ask Mary, too, because she is a powerful intercessor, and sort of the OG “thine will be done” expert.
This week, I will be joining Morning Air on Relevant Radio to talk about saints that all dads need! I’ve also got an article coming out on Catholic Stand about that, Monday. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads - you have an important job. You can catch my interview this Thursday at 8:30 am eastern/7:30 central. Find where you can listen here.
