motivation | encouragement | support
These posts offer encouragement and suggestions for deepening one’s prayer life.
The Lord’s Prayer has always been deeply meaningful to me. Over the years, I’ve heard many inspiring sermons on it, and its words have consistently resonated in my heart. Now, as part of the United Methodist Church, I appreciate that we recite this prayer together every Sunday. It’s a sacred rhythm that grounds me and … Read more
Many churches celebrate “clergy appreciation month” in October, and it has me thinking about different ways to support and encourage my pastor. Often, we collect money for gifts of appreciation, and that’s a lovely thing to do. But I can’t help but think that setting a habit of praying for your pastor regularly would be … Read more
Do you ever find it hard to sit still and focus during prayer? Maybe your mind wanders, or your body just isn’t made for quiet corners and folded hands. If that’s you, you’re not alone. You might want to try something more physical, like a prayer labyrinth. This ancient practice offers a way to pray … Read more
The examen prayer is a beautiful, introspective practice rooted in Ignatian spirituality. It’s designed to help you reflect on your day, notice where God has been present, and discern areas of growth or gratitude. It’s simple but meaningful. Let’s explore this practice together and think about incorporating it into our daily routine. It all began … Read more
Have you heard of imaginative contemplation? Also known as Ignatian contemplation, it’s a contemplative prayer practice where you use your imagination to place yourself in a scene from the Bible and use that as a basis for your prayer time. St. Ignatius developed this practice primarily for gospel passages in an effort to know Jesus … Read more
Visio divina, meaning “divine seeing,” is a spiritual practice that invites us to encounter the sacred through visual imagery. It is related to lectio divina, an ancient approach to scripture that involves slow, intentional reading, meditation, and prayer—allowing certain words or phrases to resonate deeply. In contrast, visio divina also encourages reflection, but on images … Read more
I’ve written about several types of contemplative prayer, like breath prayer, lectio divina, imaginative contemplation, visio divina, the examen, and welcoming prayer. I’ve also shared about using prayer beads in a contemplative prayer practice. Centering prayer is the one technique I’ve tried but haven’t mentioned (before now). Perhaps that’s because I find it to be … Read more
Welcoming prayer is one of several different types of contemplative prayer practices. It focuses on intentionally accepting–welcoming–your experiences and turning them over to God. Let’s dive into this contentment-building practice and see what it’s all about! What is welcoming prayer? Some contemplative prayer practices have been around a really long time, but welcoming prayer began … Read more
In a world that often feels fragmented, collective prayer can bring hope and unity. Praying for your community is an expression of love. It shows a deep commitment to the wellbeing of those around you. Community prayer weaves together the diverse threads of our shared lives into a beautiful picture of connection and care. When … Read more
Embarking on a prayer walk across a college campus is a meaningful experience. Students will eventually leave campus and fan out around the world, so this is a wonderful opportunity to have a far reach. Whether you’re new to prayer walks or have done them before, this guide will help you thoughtfully pray over the … Read more