Small Prayers that Make a Difference

By Felipe Luis Ruiz via Stocksnap.io, CC0 Public Domain[/caption] Small Prayers that are actually BIG prayers Days are gifts from God. Sometimes it's hard to recognize this when we become busy mothers doing our daily work of love. I have found lifting up small, short prayers are really very BIG when it comes to coming closer to Jesus in my days. Thank the Lord for short moments of faith when we can lift a prayer to help us through. Hail Mary As Moms, we are on the go with our kids living life each day! Life can be a busy whirlwind at times. Taking the time to pray is of GREAT importance for us to find peace and connect with the Lord. For those of us who are or who have been homeschoolers or those with larger families, finding the time to say our morning prayers is a challenge at times. This is where depending on the Lord through our offerings of small prayers throughout the day is a gift both to ourselves and for those we are praying for. Saying the “Hail Mary” upon waking and through the day has been a God-send in my life when I am searching for that connection with Jesus and with Mary. In fact, as I am writing this piece at this moment, I lift my “Hail Mary,” asking the Blessed Mother to guide my words and ask the Holy Spirit to be with me too. Short Aspirations to Our Lord Another way to connect with God through the day is lifting short aspirations. There are a few I pray very frequently whether I am writing, driving, cooking or when a tough situation happens during the day. Here are some:

"Blessed be God!'' "Blessed be God" is a prayer praising the Lord and shouting out his blessing on ourselves and those around us. “Blessed be God” is a proclamation that God is blessing us no matter what the situation at hand may be. God is with us always. I believe this prayer is also a very positive affirmation stating that the blessings of Jesus will never leave us. We can count on this fact.
“Jesus ... ” Simply praying the name of Jesus is a wonderful prayer. Sometimes I pray it under my breath just acknowledging that Jesus is indeed with me. It is so comforting to know that when I say His name, He hears me. He may not use a magic wand to make things perfect at that moment, but I know that the Lord is by my side and will help me in any situation. Whether it’s a crazy driving situation, an argument within the family, or just my own daily frustration to get things done, the name of Jesus is so powerful to keep me grounded. The prayer of His name helps me to calm down and know that Jesus is right there with me at all times.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]

“Come Holy Spirit.” The simple prayer of saying “Come Holy Spirit” is probably the one I use the most. It is a prayer asking God’s very spirit to guide me with decisions and be with me all the time. The Holy Spirit is truly our guide and our fortress during busy days as a Mom and in all we do. As life changes and children grow, the Spirit of The Lord is with us each day. I don’t know what I would do without the Holy Spirit by my side, but perhaps that isn’t even something to ponder. As Catholics and as Christians we can count on having the Holy Spirit in that simple prayer, "Come Holy Spirit."

By Elliott Chau via Stocksnap.io, CC0 Public Domain[/caption] Keep Praying! Continue your prayers in all the busyness of motherhood! The to-do list will always be with us at most stages of our lives. Prayer is the one thing we should never put aside. During those busy times such as holiday prep time or driving kids to destinations, its nice to know we can pray the aspirations confidently, knowing God is with us. My prayers will be with you too.