Would you have a job?

In the past, I have written about my joy of funny signs one might see while driving down the road.  Church signs usually have some play on words or times of important events on their signs, and sometimes they even post points to ponder.  Today, I want to write about the one I saw on the way to church, this past weekend, for it definitely made me think about my prayer life.  The quote was, “If praying was your job, would you be employed?”  Whoa!!!! 

As if I needed another sign(no pun intended) that maybe, just maybe, God is trying to encourage me to increase my prayer life, the Mass I went to this weekend, the priest did his homily on Eucharist Adoration.  He spent his homily sharing with the congregation the things people might see in Adoration, such as the candles, the monstrance, etc.  The priest also talked a little bit about his experience with Adoration.  Then at the end of his homily, he actually exposed the Blessed Sacrament, and we had the opportunity to be in the presence of God, and just pray. 

Then to finish me off, what was on our sign, this morning, when I pulled into work, the Adoration schedule for last Sunday.  Okay God, I get it!!!  I need to be more prayerful in my life.  The rote prayers I am doing are not enough, anymore.  I see the dangers in our world of natural disasters, the constant fighting between our political parties, the fear of world leaders on the brink of war, and I think to myself, what is the point?  It is not working.  My prayers have not changed a thing in this world, so why even bother?

I won’t even go into the selfishness of those thoughts and how I could even think that my prayer for peace is actually going to make peace in this world, or how I can possibly pray for a Hurricane not to hit land, and expect that it actually not his land.  However, what I can attest to is the power of prayer to change my heart. 

I am a firm believer that the power of prayer can change anyone’s life for the better, because it changes said persons heart from within.  Spending time with our Lord will change anyone, if we are willing to start the conversation, listen to what He tells us, and then actually allow our own hearts to change.  We must let the power of prayer change our heart. 

Prayer is a powerful thing that can lead us to places we could never have dreamed of.  Today, make a promise to God and to yourself, that you will increase your prayer life in some way.  Are you praying at family meals?  If not, start.  Are you praying as a family at bedtime?  If not, start.  Are you spending time in the real presence of Christ, at Eucharistic Adoration?  If not, start. 

In order to increase your prayer life, I might suggest that you start by making it a part of your daily schedule by adding it to your calendar.  Set it up to give you a reminder on your phone or computer and when that reminder pops up, stop what you are doing and spend time in prayer.  Mark your calendar to spend time in Adoration.  If the SPX times do not fit your schedule, find other churches that might.  Some churches will have perpetual Adoration or almost perpetual Adoration, find a schedule that fits around yours.   Do something that will take you out of the daily routine of your life, and add time for God.  Let Him change your heart and you might be surprised how the change in your heart, might be an example for someone else.