We often say God is the most important, or one of the most important, relationships in our life. Is that true? If so, think about how much one-on-one time you spend on that relationship. Just thinking about prayer in this way helps us overcome the barrier of “I’m too busy.” It helps us to recognize our priorities, which can make us want to spend some time with God.
Often we have unrealistic expectations about how much time we will spend in prayer. Busy people usually like to get a lot “done.” So we frequently set goals that are out of line with what we are realistically able to do.
To be blunt, many people assume that if they’re not praying for an hour a day then it’s not worth it. Or they assume that if they’re not praying every single day there’s no point. “Why even bother?” they think.
So first, try being reasonable. Start with ten minutes in the morning or evening. Surely you can spare that for the Creator of the Universe! It needn’t be anything more than that, to begin with. You don’t run a marathon before you’ve run around the block.
Think about it, again, as a personal relationship. If a friend you hadn’t heard from in years called and said, “Hi! Can we talk for just ten minutes? I’d love to catch up!” wouldn’t you be grateful? Think of God welcoming your prayer like that. God will enjoy those ten minutes. Knowing that may help you to enjoy them too.
Be flexible
There’s no right or wrong, or better or worse, way to pray, as far as I’m concerned. Whatever works best for you is right and good.
Find creative ways you can fit into your busy life. If that means reading the Daily Mass readings for just a few minutes in the morning, try that. If it means doing some breathing exercises and reminding yourself that you’re in God’s presence during the workday, do that. If it means stopping into a church on the way home and saying a few Hail Marys do that. See what fits into your life right now.
There are as many ways of praying as there are people, so see what works for you.
Try the Examen
The easiest and quickest prayer I know is the examen, or “examination of conscience,” popularized by St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order. Basically, it’s a review of the day. You can do it at the end of the day (looking back over the day that just ended) or the middle of the day (looking back over the last 24 hours).
Here are the five steps:
- Presence: Remind yourself you’re in God’s presence.
- Gratitude: Call to mind whatever your grateful for from the previous 24 hours. Anything from a job well done, to a fun lunch with a friend, to a consoling phone call. Savor all those things and thank God.
- Review: Think about the day from start to finish, trying notice where God was. When did you experience God? What was your response?
- Sorrow: Recall moments when you didn’t respond to God’s invitation, or even sinned. Ask God for forgiveness or, if it’s a grave sin, consider seeking out the rite of reconciliation.
- Grace: Ask for God’s grace for the next day.
In time, the examen will show you the places where you were too busy to notice God, and will remind you that even in the busyness God is present.
Find God in all things
Even if you have zero time to pray—say, if you’re a new parent or are undergoing a crisis—try to find God in your daily life.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the private one-on-one time with God that characterizes prayer. Sometimes it’s plain impossible. (Sometimes of course we say it’s impossible, but it’s really just hard.)
So, see if you can find God in your newborn baby’s smile. In that comforting word from a friend. In that flower that catches your eye. If you absolutely have no time to pray, ask God to meet you along the way.
But keep that desire for more private time with God alive, so that when you find yourself less busy, you’ll be able to spend as much time with God as you – and God – would like.
James Martin, SJ