4 Keys to Good Prayer

Summary

Father Mike Schmitz discusses how to evaluate whether your prayer is 'good.' He outlines four key metrics: showing up physically, being mentally present without distractions, gently managing unintentional distractions, and reflecting on what was learned during prayer. He emphasizes that even amidst distractions, good prayer involves showing up, focusing, and reflecting on God's presence. By capturing insights or struggles from prayer, we can carry the experience into our day. Prayer is a cooperative act with the Holy Spirit, and these practices help deepen the connection with God.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Show up for prayer**: The most basic and essential step is simply being present for prayer. Even if other aspects are difficult, showing up is already a positive start.
• 😀 **Mental presence matters**: It's not just about being physically present; we must be mentally and spiritually engaged during prayer to have meaningful communication with God.
• 😀 **Intentional distractions**: Be mindful of intentionally distracting yourself, such as using your phone or overthinking during prayer time. These distractions can prevent you from fully connecting with God.
• 😀 **Unintentional distractions**: These can arise naturally, like wandering thoughts or external interruptions. It's important to notice them and gently refocus your attention back to God.
• 😀 **Gentle attention**: According to Saint Teresa of Avila, if distractions occur, gently bring your focus back to prayer without frustration or self-criticism.
• 😀 **God's grace in prayer**: Prayer is not just about what we do—it's about cooperating with God's Holy Spirit, who guides and moves us during our time of prayer.
• 😀 **Capture insights from prayer**: At the end of your prayer time, reflect on one thing that stood out and carry it with you throughout your day. This helps make your prayer more tangible and meaningful.
• 😀 **Prayer is a battle**: Struggles with distractions or focus during prayer are normal. The key is to keep fighting through them with patience and persistence.
• 😀 **Reflecting on prayer's impact**: Asking, 'What did I take away from this prayer?' helps solidify its impact and enables you to grow spiritually from the experience.
• 😀 **Good prayer requires ongoing effort**: Even if you struggle with distractions or other challenges, as long as you keep showing up, focusing, and reflecting, you're engaging in good prayer.
• 😀 **Prayer is a cooperation**: Ultimately, prayer is not solely a human effort—it's a partnership with God's Spirit, who empowers and guides our prayer.
• 😀 **Pray with intention and awareness**: Being conscious of your actions and reflections during prayer helps deepen the relationship with God and strengthens the impact of your prayer.

Q & A

What is the first step in determining if prayer is 'good'?

The first step is to ask yourself, 'Did you show up?' Simply being present for prayer, even if distracted, is a key part of a good prayer experience.

What does it mean to be 'mentally present' during prayer?

Being mentally present means not just showing up physically but also focusing your mind and heart on the prayer. This involves avoiding intentional distractions and staying engaged with the moment.

How can intentional distractions impact prayer?

Intentional distractions, such as checking your phone or focusing on other thoughts, can divert attention away from the prayer, making it harder to connect with God. It’s important to notice these distractions and refocus on prayer.

What is the role of unintentional distractions in prayer?

Unintentional distractions, like wandering thoughts or noise around you, are not within your control but can still disrupt your focus. The key is to gently notice them and bring your attention back to God without frustration.

How should one handle distractions during prayer?

When distracted, either intentionally or unintentionally, the approach is to gently recognize the distraction and patiently bring your focus back to the prayer, to God’s presence, or to your reflection.

Why is it important to reflect on prayer after it ends?

Reflection allows you to capture insights or struggles from your prayer time, helping you recognize how God has moved in your heart and carry that wisdom into the rest of your day.

How does writing down thoughts after prayer benefit you?

Writing down one takeaway from your prayer helps to solidify your experience and insights, ensuring that you carry something meaningful with you throughout the day and stay engaged with God’s guidance.

What can make prayer 'bad' according to the speaker?

Bad prayer is when you fail to show up, intentionally distract yourself during prayer, or are distracted without trying to refocus. It's also when you end the prayer without any reflection or takeaway.

What does the speaker say about cooperation with God in prayer?

Prayer is not just the work of man but the cooperation with God’s Divine Spirit. It's God who moves in your heart, and prayer is about aligning yourself with that guidance, fighting distractions, and staying open to His presence.

Why should distractions not be a source of frustration during prayer?

Distractions are inevitable and part of the human experience. Instead of becoming frustrated, it's important to gently bring your attention back to God, accepting that distractions are a part of prayer and not a failure.