Be Still and Know I am God. Stillness – this essential ingredient in prayer does not come naturally to me, to many of us. How can we practice more stillness in our time with God? With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, in April we are looking at the keys of slowing down to spend time with God in stillness, slowness, solitude and silence. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. I updated a handout I used in 2016 called "Slowing Down to be with God" and this will be this month's free guide for you. It contains ideas, resources, and questions to consider when getting off the busyness treadmill to abide, to be with God in prayer. You can download this free guide by clicking the button at the end of the post. Stillness The greatest blessing … [Read more...]
Seasons of Prayer
What season are you in? How does your season affect your prayer life? With 2018 being the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, this month we are looking at seasons of prayer and of life. In January we explore the definitions of prayer and last month discussed why we pray. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. What is Your Season? Seasons can be defined in different ways. This following list isn't complete, but may give you more than one way to describe where you are right now. What season are you experiencing? Season by Age Childhood Teenage Young Adult Middle Adult Young Older Adult Getting Older Adult Older Adult Over the Hill – Ha! Season of Life Births/birthdays Baptism Confirmation Driver's License College … [Read more...]
Why Pray – Completion
Why do you pray? This has been the theme we have been exploring in February in our year long discussion about prayer. Today is the completion of Why Pray and is also the one of the reasons to pray – in order to be complete. 2018 is the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog and last month we explore the definitions of prayer. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer and of course a monthly free download. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. This month we've looked into our reasons to pray. I am excited about this month’s free download “40 Bible Verses about Prayer,” You can get this resource free by clicking on the button at the end of this post. I hope these verses help you explore the many reasons why we pray. We began this series by looking at why we pray by pondering how we are both commanded to pray and called, … [Read more...]
Why Pray? – Centering and Communing
Why do you pray? Knowing why we pray deepens our prayer life and helps us hear God. 2018 is the year of prayer here on the Healthy Spirituality blog and last month we explore the definitions of prayer. Each month this year on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer and of course a monthly free download. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. This month let's look at why we pray. I am excited about this month’s free download “40 Bible Verses about Prayer,” You can get this resource free by clicking on the button at the end of this post. I hope these verses help you explore the many reasons why we pray. Last Thursday we began looking at why we pray by pondering how we are both commanded to pray and called, invited to talk, and listen with God. Why Pray – Connecting One reason I pray is to connect with God. To unite with someone beyond myself. To deepen this … [Read more...]
More Thoughts on What is Prayer?
2018 is the Year of Prayer – on this blog and in NW Ohio synod where our Bishop is inviting us to delve deeper into prayer. Each month on the Tending the Holy Thursdays there will be a focus on an aspect of prayer and of course a monthly free download. On my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. This month exploring what prayer is will be the topic I am so excited too about this month’s free download “50 Books about Prayer,” You can get this resource free by clicking on the button at the end of this post. This printable shares 50 books on prayer – there are so many books on prayer, definitely more than 50, but this list is a good starting point for learning more about this practice. And remember we can read, study, listen to podcasts all about prayer, but the best teacher about prayer is praying, spending time with God. Simply talking and listening. Tell God you what to deepen your prayer life and he … [Read more...]
Prayer of Relinquishment
Letting go is hard. We’ve been exploring the spiritual practice of letting go this month on Healthy Spirituality. I will have one more post on this topic this coming Thursday but ran across the Prayer of Relinquishment today and thought it fitting to share with you. What is Relinquishment? “No one is ever united with Jesus Christ until he is willing to relinquish not sin only, but his whole way of looking at things…” - Oswald Chamber Relinquishment means to release or let go. In the book titled Prayer – Finding the Heart’s True Home by Richard Foster, he writes that “we begin to enter into a grace-filled releasing of our will and a flowing into the will of the Father. It is the prayer of relinquishment that moves us from the struggling to the releasing…this prayer is a bona fide letting go, but it is a release with hope… God is not destroying the will but transforming it so that…we can freely will what God wills.” As I ponder this radical prayer, I discern my need to pray … [Read more...]
Living a Life of Prayer
This month we have been exploring prayer on the Tending the Holy Thursdays. Each month on my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore. The past few Thursdays, we looked at the flow and rhythms/habits of prayer and last week listed some tools and thoughts about prayer. I thought we’d finish with an example how one man’s passion for prayer led to his whole life becoming prayer. Each month I also include a free download to accompany the month’s topic. This month I took a PDF I offered one time last year and expanded it to include new information. “Prayer: 13 Ideas for Keeping Prayer Fresh” is available at no cost by clicking the button at the end of this post. I added ideas for prayer triggers and included a list of well-loved prayer from others besides adding new resources. It is my hope and prayer that this series and the download will enhance your walk with God. Be sure to sign up to get Healthy Spirituality in your inbox, so you don’t miss any of the … [Read more...]
5 Prayer Tools to Strengthen Your Prayer Life
In February, we have been exploring how to strengthen your prayer life – one of the most frequently asked questions I hear. Prayer is a foundation for all healthy spirituality and most of us have a strong desire to be with God more deeply in prayer. The last Thursdays on Tending the Holy Thursdays we’ve looked at the flow of prayer and 3 practical prayer habits. Next week I will tell you the story of one man’s habit of unceasing prayers and how he lived a life of prayer. Don’t forget to get the free download to accompany the month’s topic. This month I took a PDF I offered one time last year and expanded it to include new information. “Prayer: 13 Ideas for Keeping Prayer Fresh” is available at no cost by clicking the button at the end of this post. I added ideas for prayer triggers and included a list of well-loved prayers from others, besides adding new resources. It is my hope and prayer that this series and the download will enhance your walk with God. Be sure to sign up … [Read more...]