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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Life's confusion and Prayer	Omar	Thursday, May 24, 2007
Question: Hello Brother, I have periods in my life, as I'm sure everyone has, where I feel extremely confused about what direction I want my life to go in, (especially focusing on using my God-given talents to produce some financial fruit and stability in my life.) During these times of confusion, it becomes extremely difficult to focus on exactly what to pray for, and to top it off; because the prayer becomes so general during this time, you feel as if it's not powerful enough, because of the lack of detail when talking to God. For example, in times like these, all I can find myself saying is, "please Lord, help me." I feel this is somehow inadequit, because of the lack of detail in my request, and because I don't even know what kind of help I'm looking for. Hence, because I don't know the type of help I need, I don't really have anything to ask beyond "please Lord help me." Thank you for your insight, and God Bless.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Omar: God knows your heart. It is not necessary to be specific in your prayer. In fact, in some respects it may be better to not know what to pray for specifically. That way you are more open to accept anything God has for you. It is a good prayer to say, "Lord, please help me, for I do not know what I should pray for. Enlighten me Lord." Then begin to move in some direction, any direction. You can make a decision based upon your interests, talents, what others see in you, what doors open or shut. These are simple clues, but they are enough to make a decision about what God wants us to do; at least to get started with something. Do not be afraid to make a mistake. If the first choice you make turns out to be the wrong direction, God will let you know and give you a mid-course correction. But, God cannot give you a mid-course correction if you are not moving in some direction. A ship cannot change course unless it is moving. One can change the direction of the rudder, but nothing will happen unless the ship is moving. That is what we must do. Get moving. See what your possibilities are, examine the clues, your talents, abilities, etc. and simply DECIDE to pursue a course that is implied by those clues. Then as you are moving, if there is a need for a mid-course correction, God can turn your rudder and a change of course will happen. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Life's confusion and Prayer

Omar

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Question:

Hello Brother,

I have periods in my life, as I'm sure everyone has, where I feel extremely confused about what direction I want my life to go in, (especially focusing on using my God-given talents to produce some financial fruit and stability in my life.) During these times of confusion, it becomes extremely difficult to focus on exactly what to pray for, and to top it off; because the prayer becomes so general during this time, you feel as if it's not powerful enough, because of the lack of detail when talking to God. For example, in times like these, all I can find myself saying is, "please Lord, help me." I feel this is somehow inadequit, because of the lack of detail in my request, and because I don't even know what kind of help I'm looking for. Hence, because I don't know the type of help I need, I don't really have anything to ask beyond "please Lord help me."

Thank you for your insight, and God Bless.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Omar:

God knows your heart. It is not necessary to be specific in your prayer. In fact, in some respects it may be better to not know what to pray for specifically. That way you are more open to accept anything God has for you.

It is a good prayer to say, "Lord, please help me, for I do not know what I should pray for. Enlighten me Lord."

Then begin to move in some direction, any direction. You can make a decision based upon your interests, talents, what others see in you, what doors open or shut. These are simple clues, but they are enough to make a decision about what God wants us to do; at least to get started with something.

Do not be afraid to make a mistake. If the first choice you make turns out to be the wrong direction, God will let you know and give you a mid-course correction.

But, God cannot give you a mid-course correction if you are not moving in some direction.

A ship cannot change course unless it is moving. One can change the direction of the rudder, but nothing will happen unless the ship is moving.

That is what we must do. Get moving. See what your possibilities are, examine the clues, your talents, abilities, etc. and simply DECIDE to pursue a course that is implied by those clues. Then as you are moving, if there is a need for a mid-course correction, God can turn your rudder and a change of course will happen.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum