Justin Combs

My family had some errands to run today. You see, my oldest son is starting pre-school so we had to get him a backpack. I needed some new dress pants, we had to buy a gift for our new God-Daughter and my wife needed new shoes for teaching. We woke up, ate breakfast and got moving.

Where we live it takes at least thirty minutes to get near civilization. Luckily our first stop was just across the line into civilization. Evidently my oldest son didn’t get enough sleep, food, or both before we left. He was screaming and crying in the van all the way to our first stop. We decided he must be hungry so, we stopped at Bob Evans for some brunch. There he ate three pancakes, a bunch of fruit, yogurt and part of a biscuit. After that he was fine the rest of the day. We went to a few different stores and he was an angel. He needed fuel for his body.

On the way home, which was many hours later, I needed to get gasoline in my van. I was close to E and without more gas we would not have made it home. The van needed fuel.

You see, without food our bodies do not function normally. In the case of my son, Ephraim, he was unruly, dramatic, whiny, upset, etc. We would have had an awful day if we waited till lunchtime to get food. In the case of our van or any of your vehicles if you don’t have fuel it will stop running. All of this you know right. This is no brainer stuff. However, if we understand this about our physical bodies and our internal combustion vehicles, why do we often forget to fuel our spirit daily?

Just like our physical bodies and our vehicles our spirit needs fuel also. If we do not fuel our spiritual side our relationship with God has trouble and if let go long enough can shut down altogether. Of course this is our doing and not God’s. What are some things we can do to fuel our spirits? One of the ways I try to fuel my spirit daily is prayer (personally and with my family).

Somedays I find myself forgetting to say my prayers and I realize that these days I find it more difficult to get through any hardships I have. I don’t have the strength and end up drained at the end of the day. On the days when I remember to say my daily prayers I find myself more energized to get through anything that is set before me. I have a better outlook know that I am close with God.

It is important to make an effort and fight the temptation to skip praying. We can easily get too busy to stop and pray but it is necessary for a healthy faith life.

I love to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, St. Michael the Arch Angel, and the Rosary daily. I will start in the morning with Morning Prayer and St. Michael, Midday Prayer around lunch, Rosary with my family around bedtime, and end the day with Evening prayer. I don’t always get them all in but it is always my intention to. I still have to work on my discipline.

Here are some awesome resources that I use to fuel my spirit every day. Please add your resources or favorite prayers to pray daily in the comments.

Apps (Will open iTunes):
Divine Office
iBreviary Pro
Rosary Guide

Prayers:
St. Michael the Arch Angel
EWTN Prayer Page

Please add your resources in the comments.