Sometimes we have a yearning to grow closer to God. We sense that a regular discipline could help cultivate a more intimate relationship. We may get off to what seems like a good start, but then find it hard to stick with it.

As you search for a spiritual discipline uniquely suited to yourself, consider the possibilities of verbal prayers, meditation, and contemplation. Verbal prayer is saying or reading prayers silently or aloud. Meditation implies quietly reflecting on a single thought or image (an excerpt from Scripture or spiritual literature, a painting, an icon, an image from nature, a piece of music, or trying to simply feel a specific person or situation in silence). Contemplation, on the other hand, implies trying to let go of all thoughts, feelings, and images so that they simply float at the periphery. The intent is to be as an empty vessel, totally open to the Spirit of God. In contemplation, for the most part, we are unaware that anything is happening — the creative power of God is secretly at work in us. An awareness of what God was doing may emerge over time.

Here are some things to consider as you lay out a plan.

  1. Set reasonable goals.
  2. If you are a creature of habit who can easily follow a schedule, write out a plan for regular practice.
  3. If you are not that kind of a person, it may be better to associate it with a regular solitary activity such as taking a shower or walking your dog.
  4. For some people it helps to establish a specific quiet spot for your practice, a place where distractions will be at a minimum.
  5. Do not try too much silence at first. If you’re new to it, one or two minutes of silence may seem like a long time. Over time, you can gradually increase the length of the silence until it reaches 10 or 20 minutes.
  6. Set a goal that is doable. It is best to establish a plan that you can succeed at. You then can gradually add to the plan so that it grows with you as your spiritual life develops.
  7. If you use a smartphone or tablet, consider trying out one or two meditation timer apps or use a timer that ends with a soft pleasant sound.
  8. Experiment to find a bodily position or physical activity that helps you stay centered. Some possibilities: Sit upright in a straight chair; sit cross-legged on a pillow on the floor; lie down; kneel; walk; jog; swim slowly; ride a stationary bike.
  9. There are many practices that might help you stay focused at your center: holding something in your hand(s) such as a small wooden cross, prayer beads, or a ball of clay. A focal point such as a lighted candle, an icon, or a seashell. Singing a chant. A breathing prayer like “Holy Spirit” (inhaling), “live in me” (exhaling). A mantra (a word or phrase that you silently repeat over and over). A sacred word, designated as sacred by you, e.g., “Abba,” “Come,” or “Light” that you utter silently as you begin, thereafter only when you catch your mind becoming active.

In the stillness that you enter each day, gradually you are likely to become more aware of God fully alive in every cell of your body, making  your relationship ever more intimate. Zero in on the aspects of your discipline that seem to draw you closer to God. And if it becomes clear that any aspect of your plan is counter-productive, either drop it or modify it. As your relationship with God evolves, your prayer plan needs to evolve with it. In the course of time, it is likely that God will become ever more deeply rooted in you. Amen.

For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.

– Aristotle

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