A while ago I wrote: “Meanwhile remembering God created us in his own image and likeness, we rely a huge part on God to assist us to grow into the person God wants us to become. While God helps, he expects creation to select the correct choices to become the distinct person he has in mind. Since God writes straight with crooked lines, we have to seek and find those specific segments of God’s design. We cannot forget that God’s plan is unique, fitting one person in all of creation.”

For this search remember these words from St. Francis de Sales: Be who you are and be that well as a testament to the master craftsman who created you. God has a plan which we unveil as we grow. God gives the hints. We have to discern them.

Prayer plays an enormous part in our uncovering God’s strategy. Sometimes the mention of prayer tends to scare people away. I hear people say, “My prayer just doesn’t feel right.” or “I just don’t think God hears me.” I believe God does hear and always answers every prayer just not in the way we want. Yet the response is always what God desires.

Often our prayer does not feel right because it needs a structure. Prayer needs its own special space, a special chair or spot, maybe a lighted candle, perhaps soft background music. Then, start by thanking God for all God has done, and then ask for God’s help. We just mentioned two actions that God loves most. Thank you and help me. Ask God to help you become the person God wants you to become. Not always because you are a bad person. But God is always desiring we become better than we are at any given moment. Prayer helps us get there.

Why have a distinct ritual for prayer? Because it places us in a space, a holy ground, where we listen to God speaking. As Jesuit priest Jim Martin says: “Why? Because God knows that being your true or best self is the state you will be most fulfilled as a person.”

We might ask what if nothing happens. My response is:  Just keep showing up. Go to this sacred place. Go every day and stay a while letting God know you are serious, and God will work on you as his children that we are.

Matthew Kelly reminds us that the only failure in prayer is to stop praying. Francis de Sales is a little more direct: Everyday pray one hour and when busy pray two. This may not always work, but consistency does tell God how serious we are.

The important thing is to keep showing up listening to what is on your mind and what’s God whispering and revealing to you. After a while you will hear and realize God’s voice and more importantly, what God desires you to become. When praying, just remain strong by always showing up.

In each person there is an outline

of the fully realized human being, the saint,

that we are called to become! Francois Mauriac