How do I pray?

Bismarck, ND – “Tell the Father you want to be healed,” said Msgr. Thomas J. Richter on Feb. 14 in Our Lady of Annunciation Chapel. Richter spoke about relational prayer–how to relate our needs to God and pray as a Christian. He invited students to ask themselves how they see God.  

“He’s trying to lure our hearts to want Him in all things,” said Richter, who serves as pastor at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Dickinson, ND. Richter said it is necessary for one who prays to grasp the idea that “God cannot be more God than He is right now.” “There’s nothing you and I do [in prayer] to get God to act,” said Richter “God can’t be better to me than He is right now!” 

Richter said prayer is “believing rightly that God is standing before you right now.” He continued by saying prayer is “creating a space to let [God] do what He’s doing,” and to “stand in a posture to let God’s will be done in every moment.” 

He spoke about what to do when one feels nothing while praying, “The outcome of prayer is none of your business,” Richter said. “Judge your prayer by how much you’re bringing to the Lord and giving Him permission.” 

Richter said when you no longer feel God, you must consider yourself blessed because that means you have experienced the feeling of God before. “How blessed are you,” said Richter “when the taste and freshness of God is absent and it makes it hard to enjoy life.”  

If one is struggling to pray, enduring hardship or annoyance, Richter recommended praying, “God, thank you for being with me, but it’s hard. Whatever you want for it, let it be done. God, I give you permission.”  

“[Prayer] really comes down to ‘Do I want God?’” said Richter.  

For more information on the “How Are We to Pray?” Lenten series held on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. in Our Lady of Annunciation Chapel you can email umin@umary.edu