Growing In Prayer

Objectives

At the end of the assembly, MFC members are expected to:

1. Understand the importance of prayer time in one’s mission

2. Value one’s personal relationship with the Lord

3. Grow in one’s prayer life

Expanded Outline

 I.               Introduction

Becoming united in God through prayer is a crucial aspect of our lives as missionaries. Prayer is a form of communication, a way of talking to God or to the saints. The Catechism clearly defines it as a "vital and personal relationship with the living and true God" (CCC 2558).

Wherever we are in our prayer life, the Lord will continue to pursue us and invite us to deepen our relationship with Him. In everything that we do as missionaries, it is essential to be totally dependent on God.

II.             Challenges in Prayer 

Praying is not easy. There are many difficulties that come up when we pray. As missionaries, it is necessary for us to know them, recognize them and overcome them.

A.    Don’t have time

The first D is that we often perceive prayer as a chore, leading us to believe we do not have the time for it (cf. CCC 2726). All of us have the same 24 hours in a day. The difference is in how we spend our time. It all comes down to our priorities.

We make time for the things we love. Look at this example. One hour for a movie is too short. But one hour for Mass is too long. 30 minutes for a series episode is too short. But 30 minutes for prayer time is too long. Not having the time for prayer does not indicate that we are busy. Rather, it tells us what we prioritize. It tells us what our hearts value the most.

B.    Distraction

A common issue among those who pray is distraction. We start to pray, and then our mind wanders all over the place. Our body is here, yet our mind and heart are elsewhere. That is why distraction comes easily. 

Every time we get caught up in our daily to-do lists, we lose focus in prayer. Instead of focusing on prayer, we think ahead of what we need to do. Now, what does this tell us? If our lack of time for prayer reveals our priorities, our distractions during prayer reveal our attachments. The Catechism teaches that “a distraction reveals to us what we are attached to.” (CCC 2729) Every time we become distracted, we should humbly acknowledge it, offer it to God, and then return to him in prayer.

C.   Doubt

“The most common yet most hidden temptation is our lack of faith.” (CCC 2732) Sometimes we believe that everything should be easier because we are God’s people. But if we truly follow Jesus, we know that is not always the case. Sometimes, things do not go our way. In moments of uncertainty, we might experience a sense of detachment from God. 

We experience doubt when circumstances are uncertain and events do not align with our expectations and plans. We also doubt if our prayers have not been answered by God. “Our lack of faith reveals that we do not yet share in the disposition of a humble heart, that apart from God, we can do nothing.” (cf. CCC 2732) Every time we are in doubt, we react by bringing our questions to God and remembering how faithful God has been to our lives and the promises He has made. 

D.   Dryness

Our relationship with God in prayer has a certain rhythm. According to CCC 2731, one of the most common obstacles to prayer is dryness. When our prayer life is in a state of dryness, we feel that God seems distant. This can happen at any time in our lives. When we do not hear him, we have a feeling of nothingness.

There are two ways to address this. The Catechism teaches us that “If dryness is due to the lack of roots, because the word has fallen on rocky soil, the battle [of prayer] requires conversion.” (CCC 2731) There may be some sins in your life right now that block you from God. If this is the case, go to Confession and beg for God’s pardon. The second way to address this is through faithfulness. We must dedicate ourselves to prayer, regardless of the circumstances. “This is the moment of sheer faith clinging faithfully to Jesus in his agony and in his tomb.” (CCC 2731) The Lord, in some manner, attempts to discern the intentions of our love and prayers. Therefore, in the times and experiences of dryness, may we continue to trust God that he will provide. In these times we will grow further in our prayer life.

III.            Growth in Prayer

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, 

because without me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Being with Jesus is the only one thing necessary. The goal of prayer is the encounter with God in love. If we want remain in Jesus, we need to grow in our prayer life.

1.    Grow in Virtue

Our life is a constant battle between good and evil. In following Jesus, we are presented with virtues and vices. The latter is mostly defined as the absence of virtue. Even our prayer life is also a battle. For us to choose the better part, we need to grow in virtue by overcoming the different challenges in our lives, so we can gain humility, trust and perseverance. (cf. CCC 2728).

2.    Remain in Jesus. 

To remain in Jesus is to abide in Him. We remain not because of the consolations He gives us, but because He is the consolation himself; not because of what He can give to us, but simply because of who He is in our lives. We then need to practice being committed in our prayers, even if we do not have the time or even if we do not feel like praying. We are also called to go to Mass and spend time in Adoration, even read the Catechism of the Catholic Church so we can stay close to Him.

3.    Offer little sacrifices. 

We grow in our prayer life when we offer our sacrifices to the Lord. We may feel that sacrificing is an experience of loss, but it is an experience of gain when seen in God’s perspective. We can sacrifice by doing fasting, and this teaches us self-mastery that follows from willful abstinence. We can also sacrifice by doing our duties well. We can start by working our daily schedule around prayer and the Sacraments.  

4.    Walk away from sin. 

If we really want to remain in Jesus, we should avoid the near occasions of sin. The word “sin” comes from the Greek word hamartia, which means “to miss the mark”. The word originates from an archery term when the target is missed. We do not choose the better part when we hurt God through our deliberate sins. We then need to reconcile with God by asking for forgiveness, going to confession, and asking for the necessary graces to walk away from temptations and sins.  

Growth does not depend on our effort but on God’s grace. We can take a step toward God when we spend time with Him.

IV.           Conclusion

“The person who flees prayer is fleeing everything that is good.” (St. John of the Cross)

Prayer life is essential to the Christian life. What air is to the lungs, prayer is to the soul. We always seek what is good. And the greatest Good is no other than God, our Good Father. But more than us seeking for Him, He is the one who seeks for us. He longs for such closeness with us. We are called to grow despite the challenges, and we can experience this when we stay and not flee.

Discussion Question

How is my relationship with the Lord right now? 

How can my prayer life grow even more?