Pope Francis has stressed the importance of prayer in our lives. In one of his daily homilies, he stated, “This is what prayer is, opening the door to the Lord, so that he can do something.” He also stated, “The first task in life is this: prayer…gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord.”
When we pray prayers of petition it is important that we pray for the right reason. We should pray for those things that may help us spiritually, physically or emotionally. We are reminded about this through reflection on the following:
I ASKED GOD FOR STRENGTH THAT I MIGHT ACHIEVE.
I WAS MADE WEAK THAT I MAY LEARN TO HUMBLY OBEY.
I ASKED FOR HEALTH THAT I MIGHT DO GREATER THINGS.
I WAS GIVEN INFIRMITY THAT I MIGHT DO BETTER THINGS.
I ASKED FOR RICHES THAT I MIGHT BE HAPPY.
I WAS GIVEN POVERTY THAT I MIGHT BE WISE.
I ASKED FOR POWER THAT I MIGHT HAVE THE PRAISE OF MEN.
I WAS GIVEN WEAKNESS THAT I MIGHT FEEL THE NEED OF GOD.
I ASKED FOR ALL THINGS THAT I MIGHT ENJOY LIFE.
I WAS GIVEN LIFE THAT I MIGHT ENJOY ALL THINGS.
I GOT NOTHING THAT I ASKED FOR, BUT EVERYTHING THAT I HOPED FOR.
ALMOST DESPITE MYSELF, MY UNSPOKEN PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED.
I AM AMONG ALL MEN MOST RICHLY BLESSED.