In my prayer life, what I have discovered in fighting against the tendency to "not pray"; if I can remember to say a short morning offering, giving my entire day to he Lord, all of my daily chores can become a way in which I can "pray without ceasing".

Have you tried fasting on bread and water maybe once a week? I did that for awhile after I came back from Medjugorje/ In the beginning, it was extremely hard. At first I thought that I would be more likely to stick to it if I considered it as a health and dietary benefit as well as a spiritual practice but it was when I began to practice it exclusively as a spiritual exercise that I began to REALLY benefit.

I have found that there's a growth and appreciation for God that comes when I have set a goal of sacrifice and then stick to it in time of challenge (before battle?). I remember that you have a problem with certain foods that spin your head out of control (mine is sugar) so when I continue to turn away from it for God's sake, no matter what the initial negative feelings that come from its absence, it releases me from food's chains on the desires of the flesh and forces me to be spiritual about my diet. And during these times of challenge and negative feelings is when I really start to pray for the will to keep on.

Oh and thanks for the great post. I totally identify with your prayer struggles!

Another thing that has worked although not always is to ask God to remind me when I need to pray with a touch on my shoulder. I often get that reminder, but sometimes it would be nice, when I am in the throes of a heated debate over some task or assignment, if that touch were less gentle!

As for the voice you heard, I have heard it, too. I am so happy you mentioned it because apparently not everyone does. I suspect that it is not your subconscious. I, too, try to attribute it to that as a first step. Depending on what I am "told," I take it up with a priest to check out the authenticity. Sometimes, because of what I am told to do — something about which I have no knowledge — I get evidence of the authenticity in the doing of the task. I plan to add a post to my Modern Mysticism site about that as soon as I get the time and courage.

And finally, I would say that Anne is right. Just as putting off exercise leads to decreasing desire, so does putting off prayer. Fortunately, I have people at work who can keep me on track for both exercise and prayer. I think it must be harder for you because the motivation is more internal.

Good luck, and Happy New Year!