Michele Rohde, Motivational Coach

A few weeks ago, I decided to pray a 9-day St. Mary Magdalene Novena.

A novena is simply nine consecutive days of prayer focused on a specific intention. My intention was healing for a long-standing female health issue.

To make it more meaningful, I decided to fast from social media.

Honestly, I thought the prayer would be the hard part.

It wasn’t.

The hard part was realizing how often I automatically opened social media apps without even thinking. 😳

I finally moved all my apps into a folder just to slow myself down enough to break the habit.

The first few days were tough.

But around day 3, something shifted.

I felt less distracted, less restless, and less attached to my phone. Instead of constantly looking down, I started looking up more.

I found myself reading more, walking more, praying more, and simply being more present.

By the end of the 9 days, my original health issue had improved some.

But the most surprising part?

The ENERGY.

I felt like I had more energy than I had in years.

Was it less dopamine depletion from constant scrolling? Less mental clutter? God’s grace?

Probably some combination of all three.

What I do know is that if I hadn’t felt called & prompted by a friend to pray that novena at the same time, I never would have discovered that gift.

If you’ve ever considered praying a novena, maybe this is your sign. ❤️

And the timing is perfect because the Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena begins June 3rd. You can use the Hallow app or search for it online.

Whether you’re praying for healing, peace, direction, or simply a deeper relationship with God, maybe consider giving Him nine days.

You might be surprised by what happens. 🙏

Have you ever prayed a novena? If so, which one?

"Consistency beats motivation."