Praying from the heart when you hit a detour

Charlotte Phillips
NOLA Catholic Parenting

Even with our best intentions, prayer can sometimes leave us without knowing what words to pray.

It may be because you are trying to pray for the first time in a long time and are worried about saying the wrong words. Or too many words. Or not enough words.

Maybe you’ve had a long week and don’t have the energy to give your prayer its usual attention after work, carpool, practice, music practice, laundry and dinner.

Maybe you’ve recently lost a loved one and your heart is broken; and no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to muster any words of prayer together.
No matter what the reason may be, here are a few tips that have helped me pray when I don’t have words. Maybe they will help you, too.

• Turn to Scripture. We are so fortunate to have words inspired by the Holy Spirit to pray with. If you are having trouble finding words, return to your favorite Scripture passage or pray with the daily readings. You can simply prayerfully read them, or you may want to try praying a Lectio Divina or imaginative prayer with the reading.
• Turn to the internet. There are several apps and websites with prayers and meditations. If you can’t find words, embrace the help of others and let yourself be guided in prayer.
• Use a devotional. Like the internet, if you can’t seem to find your own words, embrace the help of someone else and pray with a devotional book. There are so many different ones available to meet us in all different seasons of life.
• Go outside. Even if you have only a few minutes, go outside and embrace nature. Feel the grass on the bottom of your feet. Take a few deep breaths and listen to the bird’s chirping. Feel the wind blowing. Smell the flowers in bloom. Share your gratitude with God for this moment.
• Return to what you know. We always have the rote prayers we learned when we were younger: the Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be, Angel of God and the rosary. Again, if your own words seem too far away, use what you already know. Prayerfully and intentionally pray the prayers you learned from your parents as a child.
• Journal. Try praying and talking with God through journaling. Sometimes changing the way we express our words in prayer is all we need to keep moving forward. Write a letter to God. Tell God about your day. Tell God about what is troubling you. Tell God what is on your heart. Don’t forget to take time to listen to what God may have to say to you in return.
• Turn to Mary. If you are having trouble finding words to pray, ask our Blessed Mother to intercede on your behalf. Tell Mary what’s on your heart and ask her to bring it to her son. You may consider using your imagination, and after talking with Mary, prayerfully imagine yourself walking with her to Jesus. Listen as Mary tells her son what is on your heart. Take a moment to see what Jesus may have to say to you in return.

If these ideas or others still leave you without words to pray, remember God knows our intentions. Do not let these moments discourage you from continuing to pray. Everyone can have an off day. Prayer is how we deepen our relationship with God; and just like the relationships we have with our family and friends, it takes work. We would not let one off day keep us from talking and listening to our family and other loved ones, so we do not need to let one off day keep us from returning to prayer to continue our relationship with the one who created us and loves us the most.

Charlotte Phillips lives in New Orleans with her family. She has a bachelor of arts in theology, a master of pastoral studies from Spring Hill College and is currently teaching ninth-grade religion at Ursuline Academy. Charlotte enjoys Ignatian spirituality, listening to live music and spending time with her family.