Have you ever looked at someone and thought, "man they just pray so much better than me." Just me? Maybe, yes, but there is also a pretty good chance I am not alone with that. Jesus is telling the disciples to pray with their heart to their Father today, but how often do we do that?

Often if I am on a retreat, pilgrimage, in the adoration chapel or even just in casual conversation, when prayer time comes up I look around and think I am not good enough, I pray wrong, or man that person over there prays so much better than I do. My fear of not praying well stops me from actually praying.

​But Jesus doesn't want that! He doesn't want us to focus on those around us. He doesn't want us to worry if we are praying correctly. Jesus wants us to have a relationship with Him and we do that through prayer.

What are the steps to praying well?

1) Make a plan for it: don;t just pray throughout the day or whenever you get around to it. Then you're not giving Jesus your best effort, your giving Him your left overs. Decide on when you're going to pray and put it on your calendar, in your planner, set an alarm on your phone, do whatever you need to do to make sure it happens.

2) Find a place for it: in the car, might sound like a plan but not if you need to pay attention while driving. Your room might seem like a good place, but not if the TV is on. Find a dedicated place to pray where you can be sure to focus on the Lord and not other distractions.

3) Just pray: let go of your concerns and just pray. Invite Jesus into your heart, let go of other distractions and have a conversation with the Lord today.

Where do you feel like your prayer life is not good enough? How can you combat that today?

When do you pray? How can you make that more scheduled to give Jesus your full attention?  

​Where do you pray? Can you create a prayer space?

"Just Pray."

"Our Father."

​"Lord I Need You."

How can you let go and focus on the Lord in prayer today? Either find a time to pray, find a place or just open your heart to Jesus today.