How can I find God during a desert time?

May 12, 2020

By Sister Dot Trosclair, O.P., Archdiocesan Spirituality Center

COVID? How do I pray? Life is far from normal and you might be wondering what the new normal will be and when will it begin. All our day-to-day interactions have stopped, and we are either isolated or in an over-drive mode due to COVID.

How am I to pray?

We may even find ourselves with more time to pray. Here are a few suggestions.
   1.  Find a quiet space either in your home or outside. Light a candle.
   2.  Take a deep breath and then breathe out. Do this about four or five times.
   3. Tighten each set of muscles in your body and then relax them. Go back to the place where you feel most tense, tighten those muscles and then relax them.
   4. Picture yourself in God’s presence – stay there for some time.
   5. Read from Bible (Isaiah 43:1-7). Hear God saying to you, “I love you and you are mine.”
   6. Listen carefully.
   7. Write a brief reflection in a journal.
   8. Ask God for what you need this day.
   9. After your allotted time of prayer, thank God for this time of prayer.

Be sure to stop during the day and hear once again those words from God to you.

At some time during the day walk outside and see the beauty that God has created and remember the words, “I love you, and you are mine.”

This is very simple – God is really doing all the work; you just have to show up and be there.

Suggested passages for prayer:

Isaiah 49:8-18;

Romans 8:28-39;

Psalm 139;

Hosea 11:1-4

At the end of the day:

Remember some moments for which you are grateful and thank God.

Remember a moment where you wish you had acted differently, and ask God for the grace to act differently tomorrow.

If you want to talk about your prayer experience with someone, call the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center at (504) 452-0077. A trained Spiritual Director will return your call.