There are many wonderful ways to pray. The most important thing is to begin. The only way to learn to pray better is just to start praying. Here are some general guidelines. See the back for a more detailed method.

1. Talk to God “When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret will repay you,” (Matthew 6:6).There is no wrong way to talk to God in prayer. Talk about anything on your mind. Keep in mind the three basic things we all learn to say as children: Thank you, I’m sorry, & Please. It’s as simple as that.

2. Listen to God Hearing God’s voice, or knowing the Lord’s will for us in this or that situation, can be a bit trickier than merely talking to God. We were made to hear and heed the good and loving counsel of the Lord. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me,” says Jesus (John 10:27). How? Get used to a bit of silence. Reading Scripture prayerfully is one of the best and surest ways to learn to hear God’s voice. The same Holy Spirit who inspired its composition guides us when we read it. Start in parts of the Bible that are easier to grasp, such as the Gospels, Psalms and Proverbs. Turn to the back of this pamphlet for a guide to praying with scripture.

3. Be with God The Lord says, “be still and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:11). To get started, simply begin and/or end each prayer time with a minute of silence to rest in God’s presence. Imagine the beloved disciple John who, at the last supper, rested his head against Jesus’ chest.

...15 minutes a day is unrealistic for me right now? You’re not alone in feeling this way. Sitting still in prayer for 15 minutes is not an easy task, especially in today’s fast-paced, high-tech world. Start with any amount of time you can realistically do (10 minutes, 5 minutes, even 1 or 2 minutes if you have to), and after a week or two of staying faithful, bump it up. The most important thing is to start doing something, and stick to it.

...I miss a day? Don’t beat yourself up! Just get back on track.

...I’m already faithful to a 15-minute daily prayer time?Consider increasing by 5 minutes at a time, until you reach 2% (30 minutes a day). There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how much time you should spend in prayer.

Other Tips 1. Make an appointment in your calendar and treat it like any other appointment. Set the coffee the night before; make a commitment to not check email until you’ve prayed; put your alarm on the other side of room so you don’t throw away 15 minutes of your life by hitting snooze 2 or 3 times.

2. If you are distracted, simply persevere. Take those distractions to prayer or write them down. Many find it helpful to use a small notebook or journal to help focus their prayer times.

4. Do not over-idealize your prayer. Most of the time, it won’t “feel” perfect or life-changing. After a prayer time, resist the temptation to evaluate how it went. Just be faithful, and over time you will grow in your ability to pray and to follow the more subtle promptings of the Spirit throughout your day as a result.

5. Find an accountability partner. Keep each other on track. Speak with someone about your experiences with prayer regularly. (The good, the bad and the ugly.) A trusted friend who is also praying is essential to grow in prayer. A small group is another solution.

How should I spend my 15 minutes? What If?

Want to grow closer to God?

St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center

www.staparish.net2210 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014 - 515-292-3810

Lectio DivinaPrayerful Reading of Scripture

Prepare to Enter into God’s Presence. Quiet yourself and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer time. Take a minute or so just to breathe deeply and focus your attention on God. Perhaps repeat a simple phrase like “Come Holy Spirit,” or the name of Jesus with each breath.

1. Read the scripture selection. Digest it slowly in small sections.Focus on a particular verse, word or phrase that grabs your attention.

2. Reflect on the meaning of the passage, or of the word or phrase that stands out to you most. You might imagine yourself in the scene to aid your reflection. Notice any: promises to claim, commands to obey, examples to follow, errors to avoid, sins to forsake, praises to sing.

3. Respond to God in prayer. Talk to God as you would a parent, a sibling, or a trusted friend. If appropriate, write down a resolution or an application to your life from your meditation. Ask God to empower you to live it out. You can even entrust your resolution to Mary or a saint.

4. Rest in God’s presence for a few minutes of silence. “Be still and know that I am God,” (Ps 46:11).

Our thanks to Evangelical Catholic for providing the text for this challenge.

Watch for a seminar on prayer this Lent.

Take the

1% Challenge

Spend 15 minutes - of each day in prayer.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” ~Mt 11:28