SIMPLE40 - Day 7 - Pray Simply
- Katie Donahue
- Feb 25
- 4 min read
Prayer and simplicity go hand in hand together. In yesterday's Gospel reading, Matthew, 6:7-15, Jesus says,
In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ~ Matthew 6:7-15
And then He gives us the Our Father, not as a script to rush through, but as a meaningful framework to order and simplify our prayer.
This simple prayer naturally leads us through five movements:
Praise - Remember who God is, your Father in heaven.
Surrender - Ask for His will, not your own.
Dependence - Bring your real needs and surrender them.
Mercy - Receive forgiveness and extend it to others.
Trust - Ask for protection and guidance.
Does this seem complicated? Not in the least! You can take any one of these 5 areas and expound upon it based on what is going on in your life right now. Every issue in your life is covered by praying the Our Father!
This year in SIMPLE40, we are not trying to “do more prayer.” We are trying to pray with clarity and intention.
spiritual There is so much incredible information on prayer in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part Four of the Catechism is dedicated entirely to Christian prayer, beginning at 2558. One of my favorite little clips on prayer comes from 2560:
"If you knew the gift of God!" (John 4:10) The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God's desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him. ~CCC 2560
Isn't that just so beautiful? God initiates a loving conversation with us and our response to Him is prayer. It is easy to think that we begin this conversation on our own, but God is the one pursuing us and initiating a conversation. Are you listening?
I can certainly attest to times in my life where I felt like God was absent, or that my prayer was a monologue. Sitting in silence, waiting for Him to speak, has been deafening at times. I have come to realize that at that time, I was not able to understand His silence. Sometimes, I still don't get it...but I TRUST and KNOW that He is present. I encourage you to grow in your prayer life this Lent and get to know God's voice as you hear it in your heart, mind and soul. Sit in silence today and be content to simply be with God.
self
Music can have a powerful, prayerful effect on the brain, shaping mood, memory, and attention. During Lent, we cut out all secular music and focus on music that glorifies God and helps us to contemplate this penitential season. I shared a beautiful hymn yesterday and today am doing the same to encourage you to listen and turn your heart and mind to God as you listen.
(PS...I'll leave it to you to decide what "quality music" is.) (PSS...we fail A LOT with cutting out secular music, but we keep trying!)
40 minutes of functional and intentional movement. Is the sun out where you are? Get outside and move!
service
Simplicity turns outward.
Today, gather food items for your local Catholic Social Services or food pantry. As you place each item in the bag, pray for the person who will receive it.
Simple action.
Intentional prayer.
Hidden impact.
Grateful people.
simple recipe
Quick Coconut Curry I love curry! This is an easy, healthy meal that is highly adaptable to what you have on hand. Do you do meatless Wednesdays during Lent? This is a good one! 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 small onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 1/2 cup broccoli florets, fresh 1/2 cup cauliflower florets 1/2 cup sliced carrots 1/3 cup frozen peas
2 cups chopped fresh spinach 1 Tablespoon curry powder 2 cans coconut milk (14 oz each)
2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1 cup vegetable stock salt and pepper to taste Heat a large saucepan on medium heat and add the coconut oil. Saute the onion, garlic, and ginger until aromatic. Add the rest of the veggies and season with a little salt and pepper to taste. Saute for about 5 minutes or until beginning to soften. Add curry powder, vegetable stock, coconut milk and additional salt and pepper to taste. Simmer and then reduce heat slightly and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes. Serve over a baked sweet potato, rice or quinoa. Garnish with hemp seeds, a squeeze of lemon juice, cilantro and or any other toppings you would like. Enjoy!
Thank you for giving me space in your inbox!
I am praying for you.
Comments