The Society of Jesus
in Belize
"Struggler"
Preparing to Pray
1. Take three deep breaths, allowing yourself to be fully present.
2. Speak to the Lord, telling him that you are dedicating the next fifteen minutes to be with Him.
3. Ask for the grace you desire:
I ask God to give me the gift of honesty, to look at my life as it is, and to see clearly the choices I make.
4. Consider the following points:
The song below was written and performed by Brother Isaiah of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. In it he raises an important question: is the goal of life to be free from struggle and difficulty? Is life meant to be easy? If we listen to the self-help gurus, we might be convinced that it is, and that our challenges are a sign that something is wrong with us… or wrong with God. For many of us, a mature spirituality begins with a cry for help.
Prayer
Scripture:
Meditation: Today we shift the subject of our prayer to “sin.” As children, we are often taught that sin is about break rules, or about doing things that upset God. This week we want you to set aside what you think you know about sin, and consider it in a new light.
Instruction: There are many ways to pray. In Western Christianity, we like to pray with our minds, and prayer often becomes an exercise in thinking about something. But prayer involves our whole body. That’s why at mass we sit, stand, sing, use incense, and cover our churches with artwork. God can speak through a multitude of media. For today’s prayer, we invite you to listen to this song. If it speaks to you, listen to it a second time. Listen to it throughout the next week. Or, if it is not your cup of tea, think of another song that might speak to you more.
Review your prayer
Take a few minutes to reflect on and journal about the following:
Where do I struggle most in my life? What are those aspects of my life that drag my spirit down the most?
... or else write down any moments of consolation or desolation you encountered in your prayer.
Speak with the Lord, as one friend to another, about whatever came up in your prayer.
End with an Our Father or a Hail Mary.