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Find a way that works for you

Light a candle

Reflect that Jesus is the light of the world.

Remember your baptism – you have been called from the darkness to live in the light.

Celebrate!

Light a prayer for someone – others will draw strength from your light.

Write a Psalm

Look at a Psalm (Psalm 77 perhaps).

Notice its absolute honesty about feelings, and what it says about God.

Try writing your own.

Spend time with an icon

Let it speak to you, draw you into its inner meaning.

Go for a walk

Look at what is around you.

Give thanks for what is good.

Look at the Benedicite (in Anglican Morning Prayer service)

Make up your own version:

O . . .

bless ye the Lord . . .

Touch – enjoy the texture of tree-trunk, stone, fabric . . .

Listen – enjoy the peace, or use the sounds you hear as material for prayer: police siren or birdsong can each start you off.

Read the paper

Don’t get sucked in – set statements of faith against reported news, (the Psalms will give you ideas). Put your arm around those who make the news, and hold them before God.

Sing and make melody to the Lord. Laments and protests too.

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

These ACTS are a good basis for prayer

Go on a pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is about visiting places and recognizing that God has been at work there. You can go to holy places: you can also recognize the holiness of ordinary places. Try looking at the street

you live in, the rooms of your home, different parts of your body. Remember God is concerned about each of them – make the connections.

Carry a prayer around

Use it when your mind is in neutral – at the supermarket checkout,

in a traffic jam – much more constructive than cursing delay!

The Jesus prayer* or Taizé chants are good.

*Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of God, have mercy.

Draw or paint

Spend time

thinking about what you have read in the Bible or another book which points you to God.

Use an ‘office’ –

morning or evening prayer. Make up a basic kit for yourself – Psalm, reading, prayers.

Practise stillness

Let God have a chance.

Don’t try to think – gently repeat a short prayer, let it focus your mind, take you deep.

Dance!

If your joints will let you.

Let go and let God