The most practical wisdom I have ever received about prayer was from an old priest many years ago, when I was first starting to take my spiritual journey seriously. The initial excitement had worn off and I was experiencing the early signs of dryness and desolation in prayer. Our natural and very human reaction is to wonder what we are doing wrong when prayer doesn’t “feel good.” We often aren’t doing anything wrong, and prayer should never be judged by how it makes us feel. Prayer isn’t about feelings.
“Just keep showing up,” the old priest said to me. When I asked him what he meant, he replied, “I’m speaking plainly. No hidden meanings, boy. Just keep showing up. Show up each day regardless of how you feel or if it is convenient. Just show up and let God work on you.” Matthew Kelly