sometimes i feel like i don't pray enough. there are too many people and things to pray for, and not enough hours in the day. years ago, i started making prayer lists -- categories, people, things i needed to pray for -- and looking over them each time i prayed. that way, even if i couldn't say a specific prayer for each person or situation, i could read over my list before i said general prayers and i would still be covering everyone and everything. but then i felt like i wasn't giving each person i loved enough individual attention. so then i tried to rotate -- i would pray for some people in the morning, some at night, some the next morning. but then, i would lose track and i was afraid i'd be praying for some people for than others.
and often, i feel like i don't pray for my own spiritual growth enough. i don't pray for long enough and i don't pray intently enough -- especially in the morning, when i'm rushed, and even sometimes at night, because i'm often distracted and thinking about what i need to get done. and i feel like the lack of focused prayer affects my outlook and my demeanor every day. i'm not as calm or strong as i should be, and i don't deal with problems or stress as well. but then, carving out time in the morning and at night to pray also stresses me out because i already don't get much sleep.
so, i'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for how i can engage in more focused and more consistent prayer, pray for all the people i love, and feel like i'm actually spending enough time praying (without stressing myself out more because i'm going to be late to school or going to sleep too late or something). i feel like it's a fine balance, and i'm not there yet. so yeah, ideas anyone?
Posted by naseem at February 1, 2007 08:15 PMYoga before my night time prayers makes me more focused (even if it's only for 5 min).
I suck at mornings, so I just sit up in bed, say "Besmellah'el'Bahiyel-Abha!" and the "I have wakened in Thy shelter" prayer out loud, read a random Hidden Word and think about it while I get up and get ready (before my brain is crowded by everything I have to do). So I don't know about "enough" but it's rare to have all the time you need to pray. I think that the trick is to be intensely focused for a short time (otherwise Baha'u'llah would not have given us the short obligatory prayer). A couple of years ago, I wasn't working or in school for a few months, and wasn't sleeping well either, so with all that time on my hands, I was praying, meditaing and reading the writings 4-5 hrs a day. I don't know if it was more "effective" than my current 20-30 min/day.
At night, we finish our prayers with a prayer for the departed and say, "God bless..." (the names of our family members and friends, both living and deceased, and whatever else we are concerned about). After that I sing Ya Baha'u'l-Abha. It actually doesn't take very long, but it feels good to say the names of people who are in our hearts. Good luck.
Posted by: Sarah at February 2, 2007 08:21 PMyoga is a good suggestion. i'll definitely try that. thanks toos.
and sarah, thanks for stopping by. i think the "God bless" thing is a really good idea. growing up as a Bahai, that wasn't really a practice i was raised with -- maybe because it seems to have been traditionally associated with Christian prayer. but i think it's a wonderful way to remember each person individually and i think i'll like it. thanks. :)
Posted by: nas at February 10, 2007 12:53 PMYou are right, it does sound like something someone would say after praying, "and now I lay me down to sleep," which made me go back to the quote that originated it, "It is seemly that the servant should, after each prayer, supplicate God to bestow mercy and forgiveness upon his parents." While forgiveness and mercy are things I ask for my parents and others in my heart or in private, I realize I say "God bless" with my son because it is simpler. Perhaps I should rethink that. Thanks for giving me something to ponder, and thanks also for the welcome!
Posted by: Sarah at February 11, 2007 03:05 PM