Or “I already prayed today.”
Or “I pray in the mornings and at night. Praying again isn’t necessary.”
These are the thoughts that pop into our heads. I know because I think them sometimes.
From just a moment ago:
“I spent ten minutes praying the examen this morning, do I really need to pray it again? St. Ignatius required the examen to be prayed twice, but I’m no Jesuit and I’m certainly not a priest. I have lots of other things I need to do. And my girls could wake up from their naps at any moment!”
Yes, We Need to Pray
But is prayer only an obligation? Do we only pray when it is necessary–when we need it the most?
Prayer has to be habitual–and habits only form from conscious choices. This is how any virtue is formed.
“All virtue consists in the free-will, and hence virtue is called an elective or voluntary habit.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, On Prayer and Contemplative Life
Choose prayer. We need to choose prayer.
There is a voice in our heads (not our own) that fights against our call to prayer. Fight back.
If you have a few minutes, don’t be afraid to spend it in prayer. Make prayer habitual, but don’t hide in your habits.
Well said and inspiring, Jared. I’ve been experimenting lately with a lot of forms of prayer (centering, examen, lectio, etc.) and am still trying to find the right combination. Your words here are a good reminder of why it’s so important to keep at it.
Thanks Stephen! I’m doing a lot of experimenting too mostly in things that make me feel uncomfortable. I think the discomfort can go a long way to finding more effective forms of prayer for us.
I just realized how ironic my response was to your comment, Stephen, considering your new book! Thanks for the encouragement to explore and live in the margins!
I believe prayer is an integral part of life. Far too often, I’m not devoting enough time for it. Thanks for the reminder!