Rediscovering Prayer:
Have you ever been so busy doing good things that you forgot to make time for what matters most?
For years, I convinced myself that I was too busy to pray. Between family, church, counseling, and studies, something always demanded my attention. But eventually, I realized that busyness was only part of the story. Beneath it was a spiritual emptiness that my occasional prayers no longer seemed to satisfy.
Recently, I rediscovered something precious: an old Jamakirk, the Armenian Book of Hours, that belonged to my paternal grandmother. She had given it to me when I entered the seminary. I hadn't opened it in decades.
Holding that book again awakened more than memories. It reminded me of a spiritual rhythm I had gradually abandoned.
The Armenian Church offers seven daily prayer services, rich with psalms, Scripture, and hymns. I'm not attempting all seven. Instead, I've begun praying one service privately each day, rediscovering the power of familiar words.
What I'm learning is that prayer isn't simply about finding peace; it's about being transformed.
Saint Paul describes our inner struggle when he admits that he fails to do the good he desires (Romans 7). We recognize that struggle because knowing what is right doesn't automatically change us. Transformation requires more than willpower. It requires opening ourselves to God's grace.
Perhaps spiritual renewal doesn't always demand something new. Sometimes it begins by returning to something we've forgotten.
In this week's podcast episode, I share this personal journey, reflect on Saint Augustine and Saint Gregory of Narek, and explore why structured prayer, vulnerability, and God's mercy matter in our spiritual lives.
If you've struggled to pray, felt spiritually empty, or wondered how to begin again, I invite you to listen to the full episode.
Perhaps your own journey of renewal begins with one simple prayer.
Listen to the full episode: Silence, Prayer, and Vulnerability Can Lead to a Changed Life