How to Grow Through Prayer
One of the most comforting truths of our Catholic faith is that God is a good Father. He is not impatient, harsh, or quick to condemn. He does not expect us to become saints overnight. Instead, He delights in watching us grow—step by step, season by season—much like a loving parent who treasures every stage of a child’s life.
Holiness is not an instant transformation; it’s a lifelong unfolding. And God enjoys the process of our becoming.
Prayer: Where We Come to Know Him
If God is a Father who loves to watch us grow, then prayer is the place where that growth happens. Prayer is not merely an obligation; it is a relationship—a conversation—an intimate space where we come to know Him and allow Him to form our hearts.
But how do we actually grow in prayer? Sometimes we sit down to pray and don’t quite know where to begin. Thankfully, the Church gives us tools, and one of the most fruitful is prayerful imagination, used by saints like Ignatius of Loyola and countless faithful souls through the centuries.
Entering Scripture with Your Imagination
Choose a passage of Scripture and take your time entering into it. Let your imagination become a doorway for grace:
Place yourself in the scene.
Notice the smells, sights, textures, sounds, and even the conversations around you.
Ask:
What is happening to me in this moment?
What are the other characters doing?
How do I feel?
What is God revealing about Himself?
Listen internally: Is God saying anything to you through this?
This isn’t about “making things up”—it’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to use your imagination as a place of encounter.
You can do the same with a memory or a current situation. Slowly revisit it, letting God walk with you through the details.
Spend a good amount of quiet time in this prayer, and afterward, take out a journal. Write freely about what you experienced—don’t filter or judge it in the moment. Just pour it out.
Using FANOS: A Daily Check-In for the Soul
Another beautiful way to deepen your spiritual life is through a simple daily examen-like practice known as FANOS. After your time of prayer, journal through these questions:
F – What am I feeling?
A – Who loves me?
N – What do I need?
O – What do I need to own or apologize for?
S – What am I struggling with?
This practice keeps the heart honest and helps you pay attention to where God is gently leading, inviting, or healing.
For accountability, trade your FANOS journal with a spouse or friend at the end of each month.
Listening Wisely
As you practice imaginative prayer and journaling, stay open—but also discerning.
If something surfaces that feels anti-Biblical, contrary to Church teaching, or spiritually unsafe, bring it to God in prayer, ask for protection, and set it aside.
But if what you encounter is consistent with Scripture and draws you toward the fruits of the spirit or a deeper trust in God, you can receive it as a gift.
Watch What God Does Over Time
If you persevere in these practices—immersing yourself in Scripture, praying with your imagination, journaling, and reflecting with honesty—you will begin to see growth. Not dramatic leaps perhaps, but gradual deepening. A quiet strengthening. A new tenderness in your relationship with God.
Slowly, you will come to know Him not merely as an idea or a distant figure, but as a Father who delights in you, who is patient with your unfolding, and who walks with you each day.
Holiness is a journey, and God loves every step you take toward Him.
Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him because he hath known my name.
- Psalm 90:14
