Prayer is a need of the soul; it is a necessity for all of us. Jesus himself in the Gospel asked us to pray, to knock, to ask, to request even our daily bread. But what does it mean to pray? When and how should we truly pray?
Jesus, our greatest friend
To pray is to «talk with Jesus as a friend talks to another friend». This is Pope Francis's definition, and he invites us to «see Jesus as our greatest friend, our faithful friend, who never abandons us, even when we turn away» because «He remains at the door of the heart. True prayer is familiarity and intimacy with God. It is not reciting prayers like a parrot, blah blah blah, no. True prayer is this spontaneity and affection toward the Lord». It is he who calls us, who wants us, who draws us. He needs us because he created us and wants to give us his divine love. Prayer, then, is nothing other than our response.
When to pray
Seeing Jesus as our friend, our greatest friend, our faithful friend who never abandons us means that we need to speak with him at every moment. A few minutes of daily conversation with him are not enough! This means that our day must literally be paced and punctuated by prayer. There are many ways to cultivate friendship with God and enter into communion with him, according to the deepest needs of our hearts. For example:
- Reading or listening to the Word of God, especially in the Gospel
- Praying the Rosary or the Psalms
- Invocations, the customary morning and evening prayers
- Participating in Mass
We pray when we wake up, when we eat, when we make an important decision, when we travel, and when we go to sleep. We pray for comfort in suffering, patience in adversity, gratitude in positive moments, and acceptance in negative ones. We pray to entrust to God everything that concerns us, whether important or ordinary. In this way, our daily life is offered and consecrated to God, who floods it with his love, peace, and joy.
How to pray
We often say that we do not know what to say in prayer and that we do not have time to pray. We can easily overcome these obstacles by beginning to devote five minutes a day to prayer and then gradually adding more time. As for what to say, since prayer also consists of words, I will give you some suggestions that are useful to me and that might be useful to you as well:
- Thank Jesus for everything he has done for you, your family, your friends, the community, and the world. Be specific and precise.
- Open your heart and talk to God about your needs. Ask for what you need most in your spiritual life and pray to receive good inspirations and the strength to carry them out.
- Read a short passage from the Gospel to listen to what God wants to tell you. Imagine that you are there as the story unfolds and ask yourself which character you identify with and why. In particular, pay attention to what Jesus Christ says and does, to grasp his teachings and make them your own. Reread the passage, applying what it has inspired to your life.
- Commit to some action that will help you put into practice during your day what prayer has inspired in you, such as a good deed, a kind word, a smile, or an act of forgiveness…
- Conclude by thanking God for this time of prayer.
How to pray and live out your faith with the ‘PregAgenda’
And if you would like a valuable tool to help you keep your spiritual life alive throughout the year, consider purchasing the “PregAgenda,” the Shalom 2024 devotional planner. Each day, it suggests an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with Jesus. It is more than just a planner; it is a constant invitation to pray and live out your faith in a tangible way. It includes information about liturgical feasts, saints, novenas, and popular devotions. You can purchase it online or in Catholic bookstores.
We also ask you to share your experience with us. When do you pray? What are your favorite Bible verses? Leave a comment below to tell us your story and share your experiences with us regarding prayer.
Additionally, we would like to know what you think of the “PregAgenda.” If you have already purchased it or are interested, leave a comment below to tell us your opinions or expectations. We would love to know how it is helping you in your spiritual growth and how we can improve it in the future.
Don't wait; start building a deeper relationship with our greatest friend today. Prayer transforms lives, and with your consistent practice, you will be able to experience the power of faith. Happy praying and happy journey!
