Spiritual Practices

God’s heart is to forgive us. He knows all that we’ve done and will do, our shortcomings and sins, and He desires to forgive us for all of it. We let shame, guilt, and fear keep us from confessing our sin, though, often forgetting about his forgiveness, and we miss out on the freedom that confession brings. We sometimes think we’re the only ones sinning, forgetting that everyone sins, and we let sin keep us isolated. But regular confession opens us up to God’s healing power, restoration, and community. Every time we confess how much we have missed the mark of God’s love and truth, we open ourselves up to the mending work of the cross. We get to exchange our sin and receive God’s forgiveness—an exchange only made possible by God and his love for us.
 

• Take a few minutes during your prayer time and spend it confessing to God. Imagine first that you are in a safe place, surrounded by the love of God. For help, read David’s confession in Psalms 51.

• Ask God to help you see yourself as he sees you. Remember—he sees you with love. Think back on your day and identify a sin you committed. Ask God to forgive you and help you to change. 

• You might need to ask God to reveal your sin to you. If you aren’t sure what to confess, spend those couple of minutes asking God to help you see. 

• After you confess to God, physically open your hands to symbolize receiving God’s forgiveness. After you pray, take note of how you feel: Do you feel closer to God? Has confessing helped you to move nearer to him than ever before?

• Spend some time reflecting on your life and note any sin you keep repeating. As you ask God for forgiveness for that sin, ask him also for help in removing that sin from your life. If it would be helpful, ask a friend to help keep you accountable as well.
  
  

Lectio Divina is an ancient spiritual practice focused on prayerfully engaging the Biblical text and encountering Jesus, the Living Word, through it. The term is derived from the Latin words "lectio" (reading) and "divina" (divine).
 
Practicing Lectio Divina
​Slowly read the passage of Scripture that you have selected. As you do so, pay attention to any word, phrase, or idea that catches your attention. Then, pause for a moment, keeping that word, phrase, or idea in view.
 Read the passage again, slowly, and then pause to sit with the word, phrase, or idea that captured your attention. What thoughts come to mind as you meditate on the word, phrase, or idea? What are you reminded of in your life? What does it make you hope for? What might God be inviting you into through that word, phrase, or idea?
 Read the passage once more and begin to converse with God about it. Tell God what word, phrase, or idea captured your attention and what came to mind as you meditated upon it. Listen for how God might be using the word, phrase, or idea to bless and transform you. Tell God what you have been thinking and feeling as you've listened and meditated.

A simple practice for connecting with Jesus, yourself, and others throughout the day.
 
Practicing Daily Rhythm

The world is made of words. Even small, repeated words have power. Regular, carefully placed prayer is one of the keystone habits of spiritual formation and is the beginning of building a habit. By framing our day in the words of prayer, we frame the day in love.
 Refusing to check your phone or computer until after reading a passage of Scripture is a way of replacing the question, "What do I need to do today?" with a better one, "Who am I and who am I becoming?" Daily immersion in Scriptures resists the anxiety of emails, the anger of news, and the envy of social media. Instead, it forms us daily in our true identity as the beloved children of God.
 We are made for presence, but so often our phones are the cause of our absence. To be two places at a time is to be no place at all. Choosing to be present with ourselves, others, and God's good creation is an act of love.
 The habit of connecting with someone during a shared meal, coffee, or conversation each day helps us orient our schedules and lives toward a posture of hospitality, which Jesus regularly embodies and extends to us in every moment.

Breath Prayers are meant to focus our minds on a simple statement of truth and to let our breath calm us at every level of our being until we are still enough to perceive and receive from God. We believe that the peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit lives within each believer and operates in our lives to teach, guide, comfort and help us. Jesus’ promises from John 14:25-27.
 
Spend a moment in silence and simply receive the gift that is given—peace. A peace from God that is not like the world’s imperfect versions of peace. His peace is not something you can deserve, earn, understand, or acquire—it is given. Our part is just simply to look to Jesus and receive.  

One way that we can harness the intricacies of how God made our physical body to usher in this peace is through a practice that centuries of Christians have referred to as breath prayers. They are meant to focus our minds on a simple statement of truth, and to let our breath calm us at every level of our being until we are still enough to perceive and receive from God. Other things may come to mind as you practice this breath prayer. Rather than try to ignore or resolve those thoughts, which usually come in the form of worries or distractions, simply release them to the One who cares about every aspect of our lives.
 
Practicing Breath Prayers

Choose a pair of statements that resonate with you today and breathe slowly and deeply as you repeat them silently in your mind 5-10 times:
 

This prayer practice was developed by Ignatius of Loyola (1491- 1556) and is focused on being attentive to and interacting with God's loving presence in the midst of daily life. Followers of Jesus might pray this prayer at the end of a day or at a time of transition. Go through all sections of this prayer one at a time. Take your time to be still and slow your mind as you do this prayer.

Practicing the Examen Prayer
 The Examen is a way to create space in which to carry on a conversation with God. Begin by asking the One who "is pure light, undimmed by darkness of any kind" (1 John 1:5) to grant you the ability to clearly see, hear, understand, and respond to His loving presence.
 As moments of grace come to mind, give thanks for the good that has come to you today through God's generosity. As Ignatius said, "I will ponder with great affection how much God has done for me, and how much He has given me of what He possesses, and finally, how much ... the same Lord desires to give Himself to me."
 Watch the day play back before you as if you were watching a film. When did you feel you were cooperating most fully with God? When were you resisting?
 After reviewing, take time to converse with God, expressing your thoughts on the actions, attitudes, feelings, and interactions you saw. You may want to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, express gratitude, or resolve to make a change and move forward.
 Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to be present in your thoughts, actions, and relationships.

Praying Scripture is a conversational, devotional approach to God’s Word. When approaching Scripture in this way, you are not merely reading the words to grasp the content; you are allowing God’s word to guide a prayerful conversation with Him. You listen for God’s message to you and stay alert to how your heart may be prompted to respond to God.

Practicing Praying Scripture

• Prayerfully choose a Psalm or another scripture to which you feel drawn.
  
  
• Spend some moments quieting yourself, finding a place of quiet at your core.
  
  
• Read through the passage once or twice. Gently notice the little tugs, the words that got your attention, the images and memories that were evoked, the people that came to mind.
  
  
• Begin rewriting the passage. Insert your own conversation with God. Change words to fit your prayer, your situation. Spend time, talk back and forth. Let come whatever seems to come.
  
  
• When you feel like your time is complete, read over what you wrote one more time and give thanks to a God who not only hears our prayer, but who initiates and bids us respond.

Fasting is an ancient practice that enables people to enter the door into God’s presence. Fasting is not a means to be saved, to please God, or to get things from God. Instead, we fast for freedom, breaking strongholds, revival, and the well-being of our friends and family. Fasting ushers us into a place of intimacy with the Father. Fasting is more about listening to God in prayer than asking Him for something.

Biblical fasting ranges from one to forty days and varies from complete fasts, not eating or drinking anything, to the fasts Daniel chose, where he consumed vegetables and water only. We can fast anything anytime as long as it doesn’t negatively impact our health.

Other fasts can consist of things that are becoming too high a priority in our lives. Whether it's TV, social media, or shopping, these things can be cut out of our lives for a season so they can regain their proper place. It’s important to remember that we fast as we can, not as we can’t. Have grace with yourself and refrain from turning fasting into a religious stumbling block.
 
Practicing Practical Fast Steps

• Start With a Clear Goal
  Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of your marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
  
  
• Prepare Spiritually
  Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended. Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you.
  
  
• Decide What to Fast
  The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.
  
  
• Decide How Long
  You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
  
  
• What to Expect
  When you fast, your body detoxifies and eliminates toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort, such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mindset on seeking God’s face.
  
  
• How to End
  Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

Entering into prayer in silence is a way to practice attending and listening to God without interruption or distraction. The desire is to free yourself from the distractions of noise so you can be totally present to God. Place yourself in the presence of God without the distraction of words, music, reading, or anything else audible. Simply come before God in quietness and allow God’s presence to flow over you.
 
Practicing Silence and Solitude

• Find a place that is quiet and where you will not be interrupted.
  
  
• Set a desired amount of time to spend in silence. For the beginner, 10 minutes is a reasonable place to start. You may want to set a timer so that you are not tempted to stare at the clock for the entire time.
  
  
• Clear your mind of thoughts and simply be silent before God. When thoughts come into your mind, do not focus on them, rather allow them to pass by and return to silence.
  
  
• After your allotted time has passed, reflect on the experience of what it was like to simply be in the intentional presence of God in silence.
  
  
• You may want to do this several times a day if the time increments you chose are short. Others may choose to go on solitude retreats where a day or more is spent in silence.
  
  

Jesus invited his followers to remember him with a special meal, sometimes called communion or the Lord's Table. When you are with your friends who follow Jesus, try taking communion together.
 
Celebrating Communion at the Lord's Table

All you need is something to eat, something to drink, and some people who want to remember how good Jesus's life, death, and resurrection are to them. This special meal is a remembrance—something followers of Jesus throughout history have done because Jesus asked us to.

You can read Luke 22:14–20 together or to prepare.
 
You can take communion anywhere with any food items, but Jesus used bread and wine. The bread represents Jesus's body, and the cup represents Jesus's blood.  

You might say to one another as you eat and drink: 
Share about your gratefulness for Jesus around your table together.

The Sabbath is an ancient Jewish practice of setting aside one day of week for rest and reflection. Jesus affirmed it not as an obligation but a gift and even elevated it. Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (Mark 2:27–28 NIV)
 
Practicing the Sabbath

• Pick a 24-hour period in which you and others have a sabbath period. Prepare the time by taking care of chores, food prep, clearing your schedule, and even plan reflection time to read scripture, worship, and take a prayer walk. Also, turn off all devices and enter into a deeper conversation with one another, and pray together.
  
  
• Read and discuss Matthew 11:28-30 from The Message translation. Ask: what is a best practice for you, from Jesus’ “unforced rhythms of grace,” that will allow us to find true, soul rest on a regular basis, that you can commit to this week?
  
  
• Consider making a Sabbath a weekly rhythm of your life.

Celebration was always part of the Jewish culture. There were seven festivals or feasts in the Jewish sacred calendar that are integral to understanding the theme of the seventh-day rest in the Bible. Jesus partied with an even greater purpose—redemption. In Matthew 9:10-17, Jesus went to Matthew’s house and ate with “sinners” who are just like us.

Practicing Celebration

Plan a time with your small group or family to throw a party not just for yourselves but invite others. Take this time to have a party but plan a party to include new people in your circle. Celebrate the goodness of God and party like Jesus!