This aspect of prayer will drive you crazy, if you're not careful!

“Prayer is a such a state when we can truly unite with God, our Creator…” St. Sophrony the Athonite

How Prayer Connects Us to God

Prayer is like a special conversation we have with God. Just like how we talk to our friends and family to feel closer to them, prayer helps us feel closer to God. When we pray, we open our hearts and share our thoughts, worries, and hopes. It's a time when we can be honest and true, knowing that God is always listening. Through prayer, we can feel God's presence in our lives, guiding us and giving us strength. It's amazing to think that no matter where we are or what we're doing, we can always reach out to God through prayer.

In our faith, prayer is a big part of our daily lives. We have prayers for different times of the day and for different occasions. These prayers help us remember that God is always with us, and they bring us together as a community. When we pray together, whether at home or in church, it feels like we're all connected, not just to each other but also to God. It's like we're all part of a big family, and prayer is what keeps us united. So, whenever we pray, we are reminded of God's love and the special bond we share with Him and with each other.

This would be great…but theres a catch…..

“He who prays for others, prays for himself.” St. Basil the Great

We have to pray for others…! And praying for others is, well…very VERY difficult. In my opinion its harder to do today than any other era on earth. Why? Because we have access to the internet and social media and 24 hour news. In other words, theres no lack of things, people, and events to pray for. After a while, it can become supremely overwhelming. Especially when both the scriptures and the saints tell us to pray for others.

Here’s some tips on how to pray for others, without overwhelming yourself:

• - Set specific times for prayer to create a routine and avoid feeling overwhelmed by constant updates.

• - Focus on a few key intentions or people each day rather than trying to cover everything at once.

• - Limit your exposure to news and social media by setting boundaries, such as specific times to check updates.

• - Practice mindfulness or meditation before praying to center yourself and reduce anxiety.

• - Use a prayer journal to organize your thoughts and track who or what you are praying for, which can help manage feelings of being overwhelmed.

• - Remember that you are not responsible for solving every problem; your role is to offer support through prayer.

• - Incorporate gratitude into your prayers to balance the focus on challenges with positive reflections.

• - Pray for strength and guidance for yourself, so you can be a source of support for others without depleting your own energy.

• - Consider joining a prayer group to share the emotional load and gain support from others.

• - Trust in the power of collective prayer and the idea that you are part of a larger community working towards positive change.

• Rest in the fact that you were not created to be omniscient. It’s okay to not know.

Here’s a good discussion on this subject, from an LM Podcast: