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7 min
The Prayer Sheet is the essential tool for daily spiritual exercises in the Word of God groups. If we faithfully follow the exercises in the Prayer Sheet, we grow spiritually in various aspects of our friendship with Jesus. Generally, the Prayer Sheet is made available to members before the start of the month. To start the month without one’s Prayer Sheet, to be without a Prayer Sheet, is like being a soldier without a weapon. It enables members to live out their friendship with God in communion with all other members throughout the world. There is such unity amongst them that the Word of God is fulfilled in them: ‘If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father; for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I amongst them’ (Mt 18:19–20). In a single day, thousands of people are united and come to an agreement through the Prayer Card to please Jesus in a particular way. To ensure they do not start the month without the Prayer Card, or even run out of cards at some point during the month, some members have got into the habit of buying several sheets, keeping them in various places – in their different bags, in their cars, at the office, in their jackets – and buying extra so they can share them.
Neglect
Whilst some members have the Prayer Sheet, they sometimes realise they are neglecting it. Their sheets are sometimes torn or end up getting lost. But more than that, there are members who, although they read the Word of God, neglect the daily exercise. They find it too simple or insignificant. But spiritual growth belongs to those who are simple like children: ‘unless you become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God’. There are, for example, exercises such as: ‘read a chapter of the Bible, a psalm, say 10 Hail Marys’. The temptation is to say: ‘I know the Bible, I read it every day, I pray the Breviary with several psalms, I say the Rosary every day’. In this case, do a little more than what has been asked of you: ‘if you are asked to take a thousand steps, take two thousand’. The greatness of love is shown in small and simple things. Those who practise the little exercises, who train themselves in the small things to love Jesus, will thus also be able to love him in the great things. Other members believe that the ‘little exercises’ are intended for spiritual beginners. There are no acts of love, whether small or great, that are not necessary for those in love. For example, a smile or a wink, and so on. Neglecting the ‘little exercises’ therefore risks becoming a form of spiritual pride. Moreover, what you might consider insignificant could be very difficult to practise today. I’ve realised that it’s as if all the exercises in the Prayer Sheet are relevant to my life. I remember one day when the Word exercise asked us to smile a lot. This morning I was sure I was going to have a good day. But I faced so many difficulties throughout the day that it wasn’t easy to smile. I realised that one must never underestimate an exercise from the ‘Living Word’.
Some members pick and choose what suits them. They find certain exercises too simple on the one hand, or too difficult on the other. Others feel that certain exercises do not apply to them. All these reasons prevent them from living out the whole programme. By acting in this way, we are like a pupil who picks and chooses subjects or chapters whilst preparing for an exam. By doing so, they do not prepare properly. Picking and choosing exercises slows down our love for Jesus and can cause us to remain in our sin. Picking and choosing exercises can hinder our spiritual growth. Just as we must not pick and choose which of God’s commandments to live by, so too do all the exercises in *The Living Word* help us to love God completely. They are necessary for our spiritual growth: ‘Do EVERYTHING he tells you’ (Jn 2:5). We are called to live out the whole Word of God. It is true that this will not always be easy, but Jesus promises us his strength—the Holy Spirit who comes to help us. It was through the Holy Spirit that Mary conceived Jesus. It was through the Holy Spirit that Jesus became incarnate. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us to live out the Word of God. When things get difficult, let us call upon him.
Some members will tell you that one of the problems they face in carrying out the ‘Living Word’ exercises is forgetfulness: they read the Word carefully during their prayer, they read the exercise, but then they forget it as the day goes on. Generally speaking, forgetting a task is a sign that we are neglecting it. When something is close to our hearts, we do not neglect it. The Word of God is a treasure that must be protected. Many members in the groups have adopted methods to help them remember the Word throughout the day. Reciting it regularly; putting the card in one’s pocket so as to read it if needed; reading the Word and the exercise the night before and re-reading them in the morning; setting one’s phone to go off at specific times to remind oneself of the Word; changing one’s phone ringtone during the day to play the day’s exercise. Asking friends and family members to remind you often of the exercise for the day, writing the exercise in your diary or on your to-do list or shopping list. Whenever you say another prayer such as the Angelus, a meal prayer, the Rosary, etc., mention the exercise of the day; remind other people you meet, speak to or call of the exercise regularly; display the card in your office, kitchen or another place where you can easily read the exercise. ‘The Lord our God is the one and only; you shall love the Lord with all your heart. You shall keep the words I give you today in your heart. You shall teach them to your children. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and bind them as a sign on your hand’ (Deut 6:4–9).
Living out the exercises of the Word
We will not always enjoy the daily exercises of the Word of God. We may even be tempted to neglect them, skip them, or fail to put them into practice. But the more we practise these exercises, the more they will shape us to learn how to please Jesus. It will even become second nature, to the point where we will no longer always need the guide to please Jesus. We will thus be doing what he asks of us: ‘Whoever loves me keeps my Word’ (Jn 14:21–2); ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear my word and put it into practice’ (Lk 8:19–21). Our task is to please Jesus by living out his Word (Ps 119:57).
Henri Bayemi
