Today, we continue our look at the traditional penitential practices of Lent, turning our attention to prayer.

I have to admit, I always feel a bit odd about thinking of prayer as a penitential practice. Prayer is a privilege, a chance to talk to God. But penance isn’t about making you feel bad. It’s about turning your heart to God and transforming your life to his path. that makes it perfect to Lent.

The first key to your Lenten prayer is to set aside time for it. Your daily schedule shows where your priorities are. What can you reduce or eliminate to make time for prayer? You don’t need to carve out hours. Try for just 10 minutes once or twice a day to start. Make the Sunday liturgy a priority in your weekend. Give these moments of prayer priority in your schedule.

A second key is finding silence. Have you noticed how much noise there is? TVs blaring. Phones chirping. Music playing. When was the last time you experienced silence in your own home (and you weren’t asleep or trying to fall asleep)? Turning off all of our noisemakers can help quiet our hearts as well, allowing us to enter into prayer.

Now, right now your life may be too crazy to allow you to set aside time each day in silence. Perhaps you are taking care of small children (who do not respect schedules, especially when hungry) or an ill family member. Perhaps you are working extra hours or a second job just to make ends meet. In that case, you do what you can when you can. It may be a whispered one-line prayer as you fall asleep from exhaustion. Or you can pray while doing something else: doing the dishes (I’ve done some great praying with my hands in soapy water), while folding laundry or mowing the lawn, while nursing the baby or changing the sheets on a sickbed.

How do you pray? That’s up to you. There are so many options. The one that is best for you is a personal decision. You can pray standard prayers that you have memorized or you can make up your own on the spot. You can read Scripture. You can attend formal services in a church. You can pray alone or with others. You can simply rest with God in contemplative silence. Maybe Lent is a time to explore different ways of praying.

Remember, there is no need to wait for a perfect time or place. Just start.