Prayer is central to our life as Christians, and yet, often times prayer can feel stale or even irrelevant. The truth is, there is no one way to pray, but there are different forms of prayer that may be particularly meaningful to us. As people of all ages, backgrounds, and preferences, we can each find a way to pray that works well for us. Let’s look at two ways we can open ourselves to God in prayer.

The first way to pray is something we talked about in church several weeks ago. You can simply share what you are grateful for each day. If you would like, this type of prayer can be accompanied by a physical action. You may pull out your United Thank Offering box and drop a coin into it in order to express your gratitude by giving back. As a practice of mental wellness, you may write down what you are grateful for on small pieces of paper and drop them into a jar to be read at a later time. We did this second activity with our youth at Welcome Table!

The second method of prayer  I want to share with you all is called “The Examen” and was devised by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century. This type of prayer takes the form of sharing “consolations” and “desolations” with God.  A “consolation” is a moment where you experience God’s presence. A “consolation” may address the questions, “In what moments did I feel close to God, the people around me, or creation?” Or “what part of my day filled my heart with love and joy?” A “desolation” is a moment in which we feel disconnected from God. A desolation may address the question, “at what point today did I feel upset, isolated, or hurt?” As we pray this prayer, we remember that God is with us always, through times of consolation and desolation. People often pray in this way by writing in a journal. Also, if we share these insights with people close to us, it may help them to understand us more!

Both of these types of prayer can be done individually, with a partner, or as a family. These prayers are most effective when prayed daily; because they are reflective, they help us to notice patterns in our lives, and they help us to notice what is important to each of us.

If you pray in either of these ways and love it or hate it, come talk to me about it!

God’s peace,

Will+