The thought of creating a habit of daily prayer can feel overwhelming. So many things compete for our time and attention. How can we find time to get alone with God in the silence?

It can be particularly tough to pray when we are in the midst of a problem. And yet it’s when we feel at our lowest that we need prayer the most!  

There are times when we don’t even know how to ask God to help us.

This is when we should sit before Him, in the silence. St. Paul tells us that in these moments, the Holy Spirit intervenes for us, helping to make our needs known to the Father:

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8: 26-27.

I love that last phrase about the “Spirit interceding for the saints.”

We are all made in the image of God. (Genesis 1: 26) By design, we are all created to be holy men and women, and to become saints. Do we understand this?

It is so beautiful to observe holiness in each other:

“He appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth forever.” 2 Chronicles 20: 21

That phrase – “the beauty of holiness” – can be easy to miss! What does it mean?

“Holiness” translates the typical Hebrew word used for “holy.” As such, it conveys the concept of being “set apart.”

The Hebrew word for “beauty” carries an idea of intrinsic beauty or worth that is not shallow. Said another way, this kind of beauty does not pass away.

Therefore, “the beauty of holiness” describes the intrinsic attractiveness of “set-apart-ness.”

God wants us to recognize the beauty of holiness that exists in each of us.

Daily prayer helps us to know and share that beauty with the world.

When we are silent before the Lord, the most amazing things are revealed to us.

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” – Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta