Pray At All Times

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks to God at every moment.  This is the will of God, your vocation as Christians." - 1 Thessalonions 5: 16-18





Before I had children I would get up, pray, and go to mass daily.  In the afternoons I would spend an hour in quiet prayer and meditation.  To me, that was praying.  That was how I felt closest to God.  But when I got married and found my attention divided to include my household and my husband, I struggled a little.  When my children were born, it was a hundred times worse.  I thrived off of this quiet prayer and had no idea how I would even maintain a relationship with God when I didn't even have time to shower!  What I had to understand is that it is easy to pray when the circumstances are easy.  We have to break our prayer life out of those boxes we put it into and learn to see and love God in every area of our life. 

Let me give you an example of how I've stretched my notions of prayer to be fulfilled in my prayer life now.  Tonight, before I put my boys to bed we pray together.  I ask my 3 year old to lead the prayer and he thanks God for today and mentions everyone he wants to pray for.  My 20 month old already knows the closing and yells out excitedly, "I love you, Jesus!"  That prayer time with them is a huge part of my own prayer life, not just something I do with them.  I am passing on the faith to them, the children God gave me to raise up and take care of for Him.  My oldest fell asleep first and my youngest stayed up so I took him and rocked him on the rocking chair.  He looked up at me and said, "Jesus song, mommy!" and I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to him, so together we praised God. 

Before, it was all about me and what I was receiving.  Now, it is about them and the faith I am passing on.  Through this, God blesses me and I am fulfilling my vocation as a wife and mother.  Each of us has to find this integration of prayer into our lives no matter how busy and complicated things are.  There is always a way for you to connect with God.

Today's Prayer:
Father, help us to carry out the vocations we have for our lives.  Help us to see ways to serve You and follow Your will no matter how busy we are or the circumstances that present themselves.  Help us to put You first and give You the honor You deserve as our Father.  In Jesus' Name we pray, amen.