One of the most useful ways to deepen your prayer life (and relationship with God) is to change the methods (or aspects of the methods) you use for prayer.
We all have default methods of prayer, and often for good reasons. Sometimes the ways and means we employ in prayer are suited to our personalities, what we’ve learned, what we have been inspired to, what we have time for etc. More often than not, our default prayer methods are simply what we have become accustomed to and grown comfortable with. It can be invigorating and eye-opening when we reach outside that comfort zone to find new ways to communicate with our Lord and Saviour.
In our Catholic Church we have such a vast resource of prayers, methods, devotions, etc., that there really is no excuse not to be able to try something new. We all know the formal and traditional prayers (and the ways we typically pray them), but have you considered Lectio Divina, various novenas, meditation, contemplation, chant, the Divine Office, hymn singing, the Spiritual Exercises, journaling, spontaneous prayer or one of the many devotional prayers?
Also, think about the way in which you pray and see if using other expressions, means, locations or times help transform those prayers into something newer and deeper. If you typically pray vocally, try silence; if you use words, try images; if you stand, sit and if you sit, stand or walk; if you speak, try singing; if you pray indoors, try it outside; if you pray alone, join others; if you recite, try writing; if at night, try morning or throughout the day in small doses; if in English, try another language, etc.
At first, this can feel a little jarring, but it makes sense when you realize that it is possible to become attached to our prayer forms, methods, images, or time of day, just as it is with anything else. As human beings after the fall we are particularly prone to making ends out of things that are meant to be means. Here are 3 signs of attachment in prayer:
- Our prayer is diverted from the purpose God intends for it. This speaks to the need for discernment, making sure our prayer is onside with God’s will for it.
- Excessive use of one or another means. This is one we can all relate to—going back to the same type of prayer, even when other forms are available and maybe more suitable.
- Making means into ends. This last point is one that many of us are guilty of without realizing it. We come to think of prayer itself as the object or end we are trying to get to (and of course, the end should be God Himself).
Prayer is a powerful means God gives so that we, and others, can become closer to Him. Let’s take advantage then of all the different means He sends us.
? Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)
If you’re looking to talk more about different kinds of prayer, we encourage you to join our community online where you can ask questions and talk with others in the movement.
