I hate to admit it, so please don’t judge me, but I know that there are times when I get so wrapped up in things like making meals, updating my blogs, driving people to lessons, and a million other things, that I don’t take time to pray like I should.
I talked about this during Reconciliation last week. (That’s Confession, for those of you unfamiliar with that term.) The Monsignor that I went to suggested that I try to block out even just five or ten minutes at a particular time each day for prayer. For instance, he said, if I would try to pray at 4 pm every day, it would get to be a habit. I know this to be true, of course, because I almost always have to pray before I can fall asleep at night.
So, in keeping with that conversation, I thought I would look at ten little ways to add more prayer to your day:
1. Pray while preparing meals. I’m going to assume that your household is like mine, where people keep wanting meals every day. (How unreasonable!) Even if you only pray for a while, it’s still a great reminder to pray.
2. Pray while doing a task that you have to do often but that you don’t particularly care for, such as washing the dishes or dusting.
3. Pray for particular family members while folding their clothes or doing some other task for their benefit.
4. During nap times, if you still have children that are of a napping age. Around our house, however, only the adults are of napping age anymore.
5. Listen to religious music. Faith-filled music always has a prayer element to me.
6. Pray first thing in the morning, maybe even before you get out of bed.
7. Gather up your family and pray together at the same times each day, like morning, meal times, and bed.
8. Pray while in the bathroom. I know, this sounds like not the most reverent spot in which to pray. But, sometimes I do it because it’s quiet. I finally figured that God made all of the functions of our bodies, so He probably doesn’t mind.
9. Pray while in the shower. Again, it’s a great quiet time, especially in a busy day.
10. Pray when you tell people that you will. It’s easy to see somebody needing prayers on Facebook, for instance, and quickly reply, “I’ll pray for you,” and then just go about your day. Instead, stop right then and there and pray very specifically for that person and their need.
What other little ways during the day do you find to pray?
Wonderful suggestions!
Wonderful ideas. Family prayer we seem to have down pretty well. It’s my own personal prayer that seems to suffer. I’m going to try a few of these.
Micaela @ California to Korea´s last [type] ..3 Reasons to Put Love First; Love, part 2
I definitely “need” to pray right away when I tell someone I will. Otherwise, I’ll forget. (I’m horrible like that!) I also keep a prayer journal in my purse, so I can just quickly jot something down if there’s a prayer that someone needs and will continue to need.
I also pray while doing the dishes/laundry/vacuuming. I find whenever I start to do some household task, everyone scampers into hiding! So I have some time to myself and I pray then and there.
Jac @ Scribbers {Homeschool} Adventures´s last [type] ..She Can Read!! {Or? Why I love BOB Books!}
Thanks for the reminders! I pray often while driving in the car running errands
My 10 are along the lines of your 10 this week, but still different. Great to be encouraging each other to spend more time with Jesus.
Belinda Letchford´s last [type] ..10 Ways to Slip Away
I love these ideas for praying! I sometimes pray for the salvation of those around me while I’m waiting in the supermarket line or in a restaurant, and in the car. Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!
Laurie Collett´s last [type] ..Salvation’s Eternal Blessings
Great suggestions! I work from home, so I have decided stop working ten-twenty minutes before our oldest gets off the bus to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet (which happens to fall in the 3 o’clock hour). As a dairy farmer, I have started to pray while I do calf chores. Last week I started praying the Stations of the Cross in the car by listening to a podcast version on my phone. I too pray in the shower, though most often I prop my phone up so I can listen to the Calling All Catholics podcast.
I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog!
Emily @ Zweber Family Farms´s last [type] ..What do free range chickens do in the winter
That’s really great that you stop at a particular time. I suspect that really helps!
I try to pray while doing household chores but as good add my intentions are, I still manage to get caught up in the busyness and forget. So I put a statue of Jesus, Mother Mary, our a saint around the house where I do these tasks. For example Jesus is right next to the laundry detergent so I can’t possibly do a load of laundry and forget to pray. Mother Mary us next to the sink while I do dishes/cook and I have another picture of Mary in the baby’s room for those long nursing sessions.
8, 9, and 10 are my prayer staples. I can’t imagine praying during meal prep…there are so many needs that need to be met at that time.
Fantastic suggestions! So glad I found your inspirational blog through a mutual friend.
God bless and keep praying!
Martha Orlando´s last [type] ..Sunrise Waits for No Man
Thanks! So glad you stopped by!
Thanks for these great ideas! Love #3 and I try to pray during diaper changes.
Thanks for the great post! It reminds me of a quote I had above my sink when we didn’t have a dishwasher.
“If you have to be employed in domestic duties, as for instance in the kitchen, remember that the Lord goes about among the pots and pans, helping you in all things.” ~ Saint Teresa of Ávila ~
The laundry one also reminds me of something I did when the kindergarteners I work with were starting to drive me crazy (they are a particularly difficult class). Everytime I have to bend down to tie their shoes, I say a little prayer for that student. Its really helped me to be a lot more patient and understanding!
sarahrosessupposes.blogspot.com
Very nice! Love you praying for them while tying their shoes.
I also pray while in traffic, just after the bus picks up in the morning and just after it drops off in the afternoon, when I remember that I’m about to grab something to pass the time like read a book, make a note, pick up the phone, etc.