For all the time we spend tweeting and texting, how much time do we spend talking to God? Often we can find ourselves at a loss for words when trying to speak to God.
The best way to begin a more dedicated prayer life is to commit to what you know you can do, even if that means adding only a few extra seconds of prayer to your day.
Many of the prayers we learned in childhood work great for jump-starting a relationship with God again. (Not to mention the nostalgia that comes with them!) Give these a try. God doesn’t mind a surprise call from you.
MORNING
Serenity Prayer: You know those mornings where everything seems to be going wrong before you’ve finished your coffee? This is the remedy to that:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.
NOON
Bless us, oh Lord: You don’t have to say this out loud, but try thanking God before your lunch. You are lucky to have what you have, and God likes hearing that.
Bless us, oh Lord, and these Thy gifts,
Which we are about to receive,
From Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
BEFORE THE BIG MEETING
Hail Mary: Jesus’ mom is always watching over you, too. Just like when the QB throws it up to win the big game, this prayer can’t hurt to say when you’re looking for an extra dose of providence.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus;
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners;
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
EVENING COMMUTE
Our Father: Good day or bad day, it’s time to put work behind you and unwind. This prayer came directly from Jesus, and if you’re going to say one prayer all day, let it be this one (then you can slip back into subway zombie mode).
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven;
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
BEDTIME
Glory Be: You made it through your day! This is the best time to say “thanks” to God for having your back and getting you back to the comforts of home. Even if you’re exhausted, a quick Glory Be will suffice — it’s not just a prayer for the end of the rosary, it’s for the end of your day (and don’t worry, you don’t need to kneel at the edge of your bed to pray like when you were a kid. Laying there with your eyes closed is perfectly fine, too).
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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