Be Diligent in Prayer

9/12/2025

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“Have you noticed that you always have plenty of time for the things that you love, but there's never enough time for the things that you don't? Some people dread, avoid or find little joy in prayer because they spend their time worriedly digging into their troubles, rather than focusing on the Lord.

It is so much harder to be diligent in prayer if prayer is more a matter of discipline than desire. Turn your thoughts heavenward, look up to Jesus who walked on water. Keep from peering down into the stormy seas. The more you gaze at Him, the more prayer will be a joy."

I have excerpted the words above from a reflection on Diligence in Prayer contained in Mary’s Mantle – Consecration Prayer Journal by Christine Watkins - a book I highly recommend and one which has provided me with much fruit for mediation.

Let me share my journal response to Christine’s reflection in hopes that something she or I have written will stir your soul:

I do set aside time every morning and evening to pray, to meditate and to think of You Lord. The problem with my prayer life revolves around aridity, routineness, inattentiveness and distractedness. Prayer is often the first thing that I discard when my normal routine is disrupted. There have been times when I have gotten upset when something occurs that interrupts my prayer time or when someone does not respect it or makes it difficult or impossible for me to pray. But ultimately, it is only I who can thwart those impediments by simply being faithful to my prayer commitment.

Lord, your spiritual advisors over the centuries make it clear that the better form of prayer is to not just repetitively recite the words of others (though that has much value) but to use one's own words, to talk to You, heart to heart and, most importantly, to let You speak to me. This, of course, requires me to remain silent so I can hear You.

I admit Lord that I use the words of others too often. I acknowledge Lord that many times I just read the words without much reflection, recollection or understanding. While that is better than no prayer, You have so much more to offer me.

I thank you Lord for the exercises in Christine Watkins’ journal because they have helped me to focus on You with greater attention. I thank you Lord for the insight You have given me; now I must allow all that to take root in my heart, mind and soul- all for Your glory.
Please Lord, sanctify the time I spend in prayer. Remove the routineness and distractedness that is sometimes a part of my prayer time. Let me not gloss over a single word, since each one is a gift from You and is intended to take root in my life and to blossom.
Whenever the evil one manifests itself (especially while I am attempting to pray) “turn my thought heavenward”, make me “look up to You, Jesus, and keep me from peering down into the stormy sea.”

Lord, please bridge the huge gap that exists between what I profess to believe and how I actually live my life. NEVER, LORD, NEVER I PLEA, may I abandon my prayer life, no matter how dry and unproductive it may seem to be. Give me “the grace to focus more on You during my prayer time than digging into my troubles”.

Your words, O Lord, are alive as are the words you have placed on the lips of Your saints. Bring these Words to life when I pray, read and ponder them. Make my prayer time fruitful and joyful and a source of comfort to You. For this I pray.

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I am blessed to be a Lay Dominican. However, the ideas expressed on this blog are my own and do not represent the endorsement of or position of the Order of Preachers as a whole. I am neither responsible for, nor endorse content (e.g. banner ads, pop-up ads, etc.) that may be linked to this blog.

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