Session #6 - The Prayer Process

 I - What is Prayer?

* How would you define prayer? Do you find it easy or hard to pray? Why?
* Prayer is our connection with God. It is how we communicate our joys and sorrows, our hopes and fears, and everything else in between to God. It is the a KEY element to building our relationship with God.
* Prayer helps us to discover who we are and what we are here for.
* Prayer helps us to listen to Jesus' invitation (see last week's class).

II - Why Pray?
* Sometimes we can question prayer. We may wonder "what's the point?" "Is God even listening?" "I don't see any results!"
* But prayer is not like an ATM machine, where you submit your prayer and you get a result. Prayer is about building trust and faith in God and His plan for you.
* Prayer can leads us to the results that we are hoping for. But it can also lead us to places and outcomes we would have never dreamed of!
* Prayer is like oxygen for our soul. It is the exercise our souls need in order to become stronger and more open to what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us.

* How do we discover God's will in our lives? Why is this important? 

III - How do we Pray?
* Last week, we talked about the Bible and how do we learn to use it. The same way we learn how to use the Bible is the same way we learn how to pray: we do it!
* The hardest part of learning how to pray is to get started. We may talk about it, we may think about it - but like starting a diet or exercise plan, same thing goes with prayer: starting is weird, ackward, and sometimes even hard! BUT IT IS WORTH IT!!!!!!!

* Key thing about prayer: PERSEVERANCE!
* Let us review the prayer process that Matthew Kelly talked to us in the video above:

* GET STARTED!
    - People usually have a specific time dedicated to prayer. Some people do it in the mornings. Others in the evenings. Others pray at different times throughout the day.
    - Prayer can be a lengthy, informal conversation with God. But it could also be a quick mentioning of His name (this is why one of the Ten Commandments states "Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.").
    - We can pray to give thanks (Thanksgiving), to ask God for something (Petition), for someone else in need (Intercession), etc.

IV - What do you need to pray?
* A QUIET space - no distractions, no TV, no texts/games, etc.
* You can use one of the tools the Church gives us (the Bible, the Rosary, Catholic prayer apps), or simply just your words.
* You can incorporate music, candles (with your parent's permission), or an image that can help you imagine Jesus with you.
* The more important thing of all: WILL. You must want to persevere, even when you don't "feel" like praying. Some saints would say that praying when you don't "feel" like it has more impact!

 V - To Pray or Not to Pray? This is YOUR Decision
* The important thing about all this is to start! There is no perfect way to do this.
* While you may decide not to pray - remember that Jesus is always calling you personally to talk to him.
* Don't knock it until you try it!

HOMEWORK (due on 11/14/2021)
* Read Psalm 63 in your Bible. What is the one thing that stands out to you about this Psalm? Why?
* Try using the "Prayer Process" (see steps in video or picture) - How did it go? What was the hardest part?