Top Resources On How To Go Deeper In Prayer
Prayer Is How We Make Room for More of Jesus
Filling up space with more things cannot happen unless there is room. We experience it in all areas of our life: our busy schedules, new hobbies in the garage, new clothes in the closet, even more food in our stomachs. Sometimes gaps are already ready to be filled. But sometimes, it requires the process of taking away. It means being willing to part with one thing to gain the other.
We focus a lot on what needs to be taken away in our relationship with God but we forget that the practice is because God wants to fill our lives with something greater. So what does God want more of in your life? More joy? Purpose? Contentment? Faith?
Prayer is a big part of how we discover more of this life. It’s also a big part of our relationship with Jesus and how we grow closer to Him. It’s the secret sauce to our desire for more.
The thing with God is that He doesn’t force us into anything. He doesn’t make us be in relationship with Him but He wants us to come to Him because we desire it.
“You are made to commune with God but He isn’t going to force you. That’s not the kind of God we serve.” - Matthew Leonard
Of course, wanting something and actually following through with it are two different things. It’s why prayer is meant to be a discipline—something that we work at and practice. Thankfully there are many before us who share their wisdom with us.
Resources To Help Everyday Prayer
- Hallow App: A Catholic prayer and meditation app.
- One Minute Pause App: John Eldridge’s guided prayer with daily reminders.
- Treasure in Heaven: 40-day prayer guide from Companions of the Cross (mentioned above).
- Daily Examen: Fr. Mark Mary from Ascension presents gives you easy steps for daily examen and prayer.
- Bible in a Year: Fr. Mark reads scripture every day with a short reflection and prayer.
- Hearing God's Voice 3-Part Series: Hear from Eric Chow and Fr. Nick Meisl on how practical, clear, and doable steps to prayer.
- Prayer Webinar from The Abbot's Circle: Fr. Norbert Wood and Fr. Ambrose Criste address why we should pray, distractions, when we don’t feel like praying, when prayers aren't answered, and so much more.
- Retreat on Prayer with Matthew Leonard 2021: A rich interview with Matthew Leonard on what prayer is and practical wisdom in building our prayer life.
Prayer Resources on Behold
Is That You God? It’s Me
Workshop Summary: Is That You God? It’s Me How God Speaks to Moses in the Bible Fr. Nick walks through the story of Moses as an example of talking to God through the burning bush (Exodus...
I Want More From Prayer
I remember not feeling all that confident in my ability to hear God’s voice in prayer. I would think about other people I knew who seemed to have an easier time hearing God’s voice. They would say...
Teach Us To Pray
Learning how to pray is one of the topics Christians are continually striving to learn more about. In this episode we talk in depth about a couple of forms of prayer and also share some of...
Hearing the Voice of God
“What we allow into our lives shapes our appetites, our desires,” I heard the presenter say as I quietly snuck into the back of his workshop. I wasn’t planning to stay long; just long enough to do...
Three Clues To Hear Jesus’ Voice
All day long our thoughts can waver between being hopeful and depressed, feeling loved and lonely, encouraged and discouraged—how do we know which thoughts come from Jesus? Is He pushing us or are...