Real Life Disciples: Why pray?

For the beginning of this new year, my column is going to focus on prayer. With this issue of the Sooner Catholic coming right as Lent begins, I can’t think of a better topic for us to discuss. Prayer is the foundation of discipleship, but it also is the primary aim of the Lenten season.

You may be familiar with the legendary business book “Start with Why.” Author Simon Sinek leads the reader through a powerful realization of just how important it is to know why you are doing something. He contends that any person or organization can articulate “what” they do, and some can even explain “how” they are different or better than others. But, very few can articulate “why” they do what they do. 

I would make a compelling argument that this is why many people don’t make progress in the spiritual life. They have never spent time really wrestling with the question why – why do I pray? Why do I want to be a disciple? Why should I follow God? “Why” is the thing that inspires us and others around us. It’s a question worth asking, and asking often!

So why should we pray? There are many answers to this question. Because it’s the foundation of discipleship and the Christian life, because we can’t get to heaven if we don’t, because it’s the only way God can speak to us and transform us into who he created us to be, etc. 

All of these would be correct. But, I think there is a more foundational “why” than all of these. Why pray? Because God asked us to! “Pray at all times” (Luke 21:36). “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). 

Well-known spiritual author Father Jacques Philippe in his book, “Time for God,” says, “We should not pray for the sake of satisfactions or benefits we derive (even if they are immense) but mainly to please God, because he asks us to.  … What matters is to give time freely to God, simply for ‘his’ satisfaction, ‘his’ joy.”

All the other answers to that “why” question are indeed satisfied, but the starting why needs to be this. When I give myself as a free gift in prayer, regardless of what I experience, I am saying that even my time is God’s, maybe even my sleep is his. Often for me the only way I can give more time to God is to get up even earlier.

Lent is about to begin. Could I encourage you to take up prayer as one of your primary themes for this Lenten season? It’s a natural choice. Perhaps you could do a book study that will help you grow and deepen your prayer life? Maybe get into a small group with some friends or others at your parish and not only spend time together learning more about prayer but actually doing it! 

I want to give you some ideas; great Lenten reads to consider:

- “Introduction to the Devout Life” by St. Francis de Sales (Tan Publishers)
- “A Sign of Contradiction” by Pope St. John Paul II (Cluny Media)
- “Time for God” by Father Jacques Philippe (Scepter Publishers)
- “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence (Leyland Edwards Publisher)

I also would throw my own book out there, “God Help Me: How to Grow In Prayer” (Saint Anthony Messenger Press). I wouldn’t put it on the same list as books that included saints, but it was a labor of love and rooted in a deep desire to see others come to a richer experience of the beautiful gift of prayer and the spiritual life.

Some helpful tips before you get started. The simple measures of prayer are honesty and consistency. The good news is that every single one of us is capable of those two things! We all can consistently make more time for prayer, and we can be as honest as we possibly can when we are there. 

Those really are the measures of prayer and the spiritual life. I don’t know about you, but that reality gives me great hope. If I just keep at it, over time, God can and will actually change me!

The harder news perhaps is that is really does depend on our cooperation. Without prayer we will not make progress. Without mental prayer we will not grow, and we will not experience the transformation that God desires for us. 

Even if your prayer is not deep and powerful, just keep showing up! Jacques Philippe says, “Time spent faithfully every day in mental prayer that is poor, arid, distracted and relatively short is worth more, and will be infinitely more fruitful for our progress, than long, ardent spells of mental prayer from time to time when circumstances make it easy” (“Time for God”). So, the measure of honesty and consistency are things we all are capable of, but must do them!

You are in my prayers this Lenten season. I am practicing what I preach here. The discipleship group my wife and I lead at our own parish is reading “Time for God” right now and meeting every week to discuss and pray together. I invite you to join on a journey of your own or with others at your parish. Pick a book to study by yourself or together with others, be committed to daily time with the Lord in prayer, and then sit back and wait for it – the incredible blessing that God will unfold for you!