Last week on Catholic Mom I wrote about the biblical concept of first fruits, and how we can apply that to our modern lives. In the Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz observes that often we are giving God whatever is left in our days. Energetic scraps, if you will. How can we give God our best in the midst of our busy lives?
Our lives are measured by the way we live our days, and our days are too often full of other priorities and idols of the modern world. We make time for what is important to us, so what does that say about the time we make for God each day?
One way to make time for God each day is to prioritize daily prayer in some form, big or small. This can be a holy hour or a one-minute Morning Offering (my personal favorite). In order to prioritize daily prayer we need to make some decisions in advance:
- When are we praying? Before the kids wake up, in the car on the way to work, at bedtime, etc.
- Where are we praying? At mass, in bed, at the dinner table, in a designated prayer space, etc.
- How are we praying? Rosary, reading scripture, conversations with God, etc.
Today we are looking at how to best support yourself as you decide on the where and how.
I don’t have a cozy, quiet space in my home that lends itself well to curling up with coffee and prayer. My young children are curious about anything I leave out in the common areas of my home, such as a prayer book or rosary, and those items can quickly be moved by little hands and cause stress. Creating a prayer basket has been a lifesaver in many ways:
- I can set up and put away my prayer space supplies when I’m done. This saves space and also keeps tempting objects away from curious little hands
- All of the supplies I want for prayer are in one place and I don’t lose time looking for anything
- It is inspirational and motivational to see that little basket and know that it’s just for me and God. I crave spending time in prayer when I know everything is there waiting for me
What goes in a prayer basket? I’m so glad you asked. They are entirely customizable to your needs and preferences, but here are some suggestions for getting started:
- Books: Devotionals, a Bible, prayer books, spiritual reading, Liturgy of the Hours breviary
- Accessories: Pens, pencils, highlighters, headphones
- Ambiance: Candle, incense, lighter, prayer cards, small statue, icons. Create or find a playlist (I use Spotify) to play during your prayer times
If you’re just getting started then don’t make things too complicated. Cluttering up your prayer space with extra items “just in case” you’ll have time only leads to you feeling guilty for not getting to all those forms of prayer each day. Prioritize what is necessary to have plus one or two extras. You will tweak things over time as you experiment with what works and doesn’t work. I swap items out in my prayer basket depending on the liturgical year, which helps keep things fresh and focuses my prayer.
Do you have a prayer basket or another means of organizing your prayer supplies? Share some thoughts and/or photos in the comments!