Yesterday at Mass we learned how to pray. We learned the same thing that every Catholic learned in every church around the world. We learned The Lord’s Prayer. This isn’t the first time we’ve learned it. We learn it all the time. But maybe this is the first time I learned it all. Because there is this . . .
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11
For several years when I pray The Lord’s Prayer I spend a lot of time on “Give us this day our daily bread . . .” I made up my mind that I needed to ask God for the money that I needed day in and day out. And for many years God made sure that I had the money I needed. If I needed $5, I had it in my pocket. If I needed $100, that’s what I had in my bank account. There were a couple of days that it didn’t happen. Maybe that was because I didn’t ask, maybe because I didn’t believe. But by and large it happened each and every time.
For the last couple of years, I have just scratched my head and asked “why isn’t God answering my prayers?” He has answered so many for me. He has given me the life that I love but it’s not complete. I’m ready to make a transition into the next phase of my life but it’s just not happening. Maybe it’s not happening because I’m not asking for what I want. Did I even think of that? I have got to ask God specifically for what I want. Isn’t there something out there like “you have to name it to claim it”? Yes. God is not a mind reader. Well yes he is but maybe he’s not sure that I really want it. So each day I am going to ask him point blank for what I want.
The Lord’s Prayer is a conversation with God. So, last night I thanked him for the beautiful day we had and the lovely breeze that he had given us. And the peaceful sunset over my shoulder.
“Thank you for allowing me to interact with my family at Mass. Oh, and thank you for the strong voice to sing out at Mass this morning (with good songs). Thank you for the motivation to do more than lay around. I ask that you keep me motivated. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done in the house and I’m going to need some help. I’ve very proud of that closet that you helped me clean out. Lord, thank you for a good’s night sleep and for waking me up bright and early (before my alarm) so that I can go to work early and get started on a fruitful day.”
“This is my prayer Lord. I ask you to remember me and my family in your prayers today Lord. And I’ll talk with you later today. Love you! Appreciate you!”
See how simple that was. You can do this in a prayer or gratitude journal. You can do this while you soak in the tub. You can do it on your way home from work. Or you can do it while you’re sitting outside on the deck watching the sun come up or go down. It doesn’t matter. You simply have to do it.
