Advice for Good Prayer
Adapted from Fr. Mike McHugh, S.J., "Daily Ways to Pray" (1996)
In 1996, the late Fr. Mike published his "Daily Ways to Pray," a booklet of prayer-starters for a nine-month Ignatian Retreat, based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. At the beginning of his pamphlet, Fr. Mike offered these bits of wisdom to enhance your daily prayer. I have omitted those tips that were specifically intended for someone who is participating in a structured Ignatian spiritual exercise, concentrating on the more general helps for prayer. Although written for Catholics, this advice would seem to be applicable to any Christian who is participating in a ministry of daily prayer.
The complete "Daily Ways to Pray" can be found on-line at the web site for the Oregon Province, Society of Jesus. From their top line menu, highlight "Our Spirituality" and move down to "Daily Ways to Pray;" then select the desired week (1 through 37) and day.
Additional advice for prayer can be found in The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, in my pamphlets Daily Prayer and Prayer in the New Testament, and on the Prayer And Study Resources page. I am planning additional pages on some of Martin Luther's writings concerning prayer.