“Amen” to the “just show up” mentality 🙏 I have struggled for years with a “I’m not doing enough” mindset but find the most peace in prayer these days when I just gift myself quiet time (wherever it happens) to rest with Jesus. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Danielle ❤️
Your words always inspire me to better myself in my walk with Christ. You speak from the heart, I can hear it when I read your post. Thank you, Danielle 🙏🏼
Thank you for this post, Danielle. It's such a fantastic reminder that prayer can happen anywhere, at anytime. I appreciate you underscoring that God is pleased with our desire to pray (even if it doesn't always happen exactly like we want it to). It reminds me of a line from Thomas Merton's prayer: "I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you."
Such a good reminder, Danielle! I struggle with the focused prayer too! Once I figured out how to quiet the unnecessary “noise” of everyday life (busyness - distractions) - I figured out how to hang out with God more. Just being and breathing with Him throughout our days is prayer, however that may look.
“Amen” to the “just show up” mentality 🙏 I have struggled for years with a “I’m not doing enough” mindset but find the most peace in prayer these days when I just gift myself quiet time (wherever it happens) to rest with Jesus. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Danielle ❤️
Awwww thank you so much, Lisa! I think we all struggle that way sometimes, and it helps to remind each other that we are doing enough.
Your words always inspire me to better myself in my walk with Christ. You speak from the heart, I can hear it when I read your post. Thank you, Danielle 🙏🏼
Thank you Anissa! That is so kind of you to say. Your words are very encouraging to me. 💙
Thank you for this post, Danielle. It's such a fantastic reminder that prayer can happen anywhere, at anytime. I appreciate you underscoring that God is pleased with our desire to pray (even if it doesn't always happen exactly like we want it to). It reminds me of a line from Thomas Merton's prayer: "I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you."
I wrote a poem a few years back titled "How to Pray" that directly relates to your post. You can check it out at the bottom of this link (https://www.radiantmagazine.com/2023/07/20/know-there-is-holiness-in-a-messy-job-well-done/) , but I will also paste the text in directly. Enjoy!
How to pray
by Veronica Szczygiel
close your eyes.
or leave them open.
listen to the wind on the songbird’s wing.
or sing.
watch the waves roll in on a distant shore. count the shells they left behind.
or the stars in a cloudless night sky.
marvel at the colors of the sunset. or the leaves as they change.
pick a daisy to make a daisy chain. or plant one in the ground again.
cook a Sunday meal for your family.
call your friend on the phone. or walk into the woods alone.
say the rosary. or say what you feel.
kneel in a pew.
kneel to light a candle at your grandparents’ grave.
or to tie the unraveled ends of your son’s shoelace.
or to clean your daughter’s toys left behind from play.
play fetch with Fido. or cuddle with cat in your lap.
wash the dishes.
feel the soap run down your hands and remember
that every labor no matter how seemingly insignificant is good in God’s eyes.
everything, every movement, every sinew of our muscles
contracting and relaxing for goodness is a gift for God.
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it, Veronica!
Thank you, Veronica! These are my favorite ways to pray.
Such a good reminder, Danielle! I struggle with the focused prayer too! Once I figured out how to quiet the unnecessary “noise” of everyday life (busyness - distractions) - I figured out how to hang out with God more. Just being and breathing with Him throughout our days is prayer, however that may look.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Kelly! You are so right and I love how you put it: "just being and breathing with Him" Beautiful!