“A hungry
man does not have to be reminded to eat.”
Those were the words of my pastor after I confessed that I often allow
myself to be distracted. “If you hunger
for God more, you will be distracted less,” he said.
man does not have to be reminded to eat.”
Those were the words of my pastor after I confessed that I often allow
myself to be distracted. “If you hunger
for God more, you will be distracted less,” he said.
We are humans
not robots, so complete mental focus is not ours to be had but sitting in Mass or to set aside time
for prayer and adoration and going over a to-do list instead of receiving all
that God has to give is devaluing our time.
not robots, so complete mental focus is not ours to be had but sitting in Mass or to set aside time
for prayer and adoration and going over a to-do list instead of receiving all
that God has to give is devaluing our time.
“It’s
pride,” my pastor said. “Because rather
than soaking in all that God has to give you, you are focused on
yourself.”
pride,” my pastor said. “Because rather
than soaking in all that God has to give you, you are focused on
yourself.”
That sounds
harsh, but I know it is true. To let worldly things intrude on God time, robs us of the graces we could be receiving. And if we are not paying attention to our own prayers, we can’t expect God to.
harsh, but I know it is true. To let worldly things intrude on God time, robs us of the graces we could be receiving. And if we are not paying attention to our own prayers, we can’t expect God to.
For
inspiration, to do better, I read Thirsting
for Prayer by Jacques Philippe, author and retreat master. “What the
world most needs today is prayer,” according to Fr. Philippe. “Faithfulness to
prayer is a path of freedom.” I also
read what St. Teresa of Avilla has to say about prayer and focus. Below is a list based on some of their advice
on focusing on God and minimizing distractions.
inspiration, to do better, I read Thirsting
for Prayer by Jacques Philippe, author and retreat master. “What the
world most needs today is prayer,” according to Fr. Philippe. “Faithfulness to
prayer is a path of freedom.” I also
read what St. Teresa of Avilla has to say about prayer and focus. Below is a list based on some of their advice
on focusing on God and minimizing distractions.
1)
Ask
God for help.
Ask
God for help.
2)
Ask the saints for help. Their love of God helped them to focus intensely. Some even levitated during
prayer. The saints were often so absorbed
by their union with God, that they were not aware of what was going on around
them.
Ask the saints for help. Their love of God helped them to focus intensely. Some even levitated during
prayer. The saints were often so absorbed
by their union with God, that they were not aware of what was going on around
them.
3)
Accept but don’t welcome distractions. That means no electronic devices!
Accept but don’t welcome distractions. That means no electronic devices!
4)
Refocus.
Refocus.
5)
Be humble.
You can’t control everything.
Even the doctor of the Church St. Teresa of Avila was plagued
with distraction .
Be humble.
You can’t control everything.
Even the doctor of the Church St. Teresa of Avila was plagued
with distraction .
6)
Have
faith in God’s presence. Meditate on God truly being right there with you.
Have
faith in God’s presence. Meditate on God truly being right there with you.
7)
Have
faith that God gives you the grace you need to focus without expecting
perfection.
Have
faith that God gives you the grace you need to focus without expecting
perfection.
8)
Persevere.
Persevere.
9)
Expect
improvement, not perfection.
10) Hunger for God. Desire God more and the
distractions will be less.
Expect
improvement, not perfection.
10) Hunger for God. Desire God more and the
distractions will be less.
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
– St. Teresa of Avila
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
– St. Teresa of Avila
“Humble people persevere in the life of prayer without presumption and without relying on themselves.”
-Fr. Phillipe.
~~~~~~~
For more inspiration check out Patti’s latest book: Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith & Get to Heaven. Other books include: Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families and the best-selling Amazing Grace Series.
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