Pure prayer is a joy. This idea came from British Benedictine Abbot John Chapman, a biblical scholar and popular preacher who died in 1933. He taught that prayer is not necessarily found in our lofty thoughts or words, nor is it a matter of pious feelings; he insisted you should never force feelings of any kind.
Pure prayer is found in the will to give yourself to God, period. As Chapman said, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t.”
In this age of cellphones and computers, we all need to get our heads out of a speed-oriented approach to life, which tends to be nervous about many things. We need to get back to the spiritual simplicity of the masters.
Prayer, at times, can be difficult. But even if you feel as dry as a bone or have wild distractions, it’s still possible to pray well. Go to God and say, “Yes, Lord, I am here, and I give myself to you as best I can.”
While you’re saying the rosary, meditating or engaging in wordless prayer, this underlying predisposition is your assurance that you are engaging in prayer. Be sincere and relax.
Living in the present moment, instead of having your head buried in the past or in your fears about the future, is key to enjoying peaceful prayer.
Do not let your distractions upset you. Laugh at them. Just give yourself to God as best you can, and try to enjoy your time with the Lord.
You may never be able to pray as well as you think you ought to pray, but if you accept the reality of your limitations, and just give yourself to God, you’ll be fine. The Lord loves you for your very desire to pray well. He accepts you just as you. It’s a win-win.
Christ came to bring you joy, so why not give him what he wants. Be joyful.
Always being emotionally happy is not possible. Sometimes we pray through our tears, but under the sadness and woes of life, there is always an awareness of the words of Jesus, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete “ (Jn 15:11).
Learn to smile more, knowing and trusting that in Christ all will be well.
You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to share in God’s limitless joy. Sanctifying grace gives you a share in God’s happiness right now. St. Catherine of Siena said, “All the way to heaven is heaven,” so freshen your prayer with joy.
