Feb 27 Thu
How can I strengthen my prayer life?
15 tips for the spiritual battle.
Spiritual life is a real battle. Scripture says in Ecclesiasticus: “If you want to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for the test.” In this battle the enemies are three: the devil, the flesh, and the world's lifestyles.
1. Be convinced that you need to pray. What air is to the lungs, so is prayer to your soul. That is why without prayer your soul will wither.
2. Know well what prayer is. Prayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God; it is to speak in friendship with the One we know loves us. It is being with God and enjoying his company.
3. Put yourself in the presence of God. Begin by imagining that the Lord is looking at you, there, with great love.
4. Jesus is a Person. Imagine Jesus in his human nature: tired, thirsty, sad, happy, joyful, or fearful. He wants a close relationship with you.
5. Use sacred images: paintings, statues, or a photo on your phone... Find the image that best appeals to your mind and use it to catapult you to an intense dialog.
6. Frequent confession. Sometimes prayer is difficult because your conscience is not at peace. To remedy this uneasiness, go to confession. One of the Beatitudes says: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”.
7. Read. Use spiritual reading to feed your imagination, and be educated in the art of prayer. Sacred Scripture, the Word of God, should be a primary help for prayer.
8. Start the day praying. Jesus rose and began to pray before dawn. Many perceive that if prayer is delayed or some previous activity is given priority, it is often omitted or done badly. To prevent this, it is best to follow Christ's example and dedicate the first moments of each day to God.
9. Ask God for help. We are all beggars before God. We depend on Him for everything. Jesus said: “Without me, you can do nothing”, but also “Everything is possible with God”. Thus, ask God for the grace to learn the art of prayer and put it into practice.
10. Ask for prayers from others. The Christian must be humble enough to ask others to pray for him. This includes the intercession of the saints, especially Mary, your Guardian Angel, and your patron saint.
11. Seek a quiet and suitable place. Even Jesus had a special place to pray: the Garden of Gethsemane.
12. Pray before the Blessed Sacrament. It is easier to talk when the other person is facing you.
13. Seek spiritual direction. The spiritual life is not meant to be walked alone. Everyone should seek spiritual ‘coaching’.
14. Live in the presence of God. St. Paul: “In Him, we live and move and have our being”. You can use an aspiration, each day, for this.
15. Never give up. “He who endures to the end will be saved.” This certainly applies to prayer. Even when you are discouraged, distracted, or caught in a dry spell, never give up prayer. These are the times when you need it most; pray intensely.
Video: