Start a Prayer Journal

Developing a healthy prayer routine requires some discipline. A prayer journal is a good way to stay focused during prayer. This can be an especially helpful practice for teens who are trying to develop a deeper prayer life. But it is appropriate for all ages.

You may choose how often to write in your prayer journal, but it is best to keep to a set schedule.But it is perfectly acceptable to journal once a week or once a day or whatever fits your schedule. The important thing is to make it a habit.

Perhaps the easiest way to find inspiration is to get a journal with prompts to help you get started, like the Examen Journal. But if you come up with ideas on your own, you can just use a blank journal or any old notebook. Composition notebooks work well.

The daily mass readings are a good starting point. You can just write your thoughts about the readings or do a more structured Lectio Divina based on the scripture readings.

You can also just journal about what is going on in your life. A daily Examen can be a good way to find inspiration for this. This is a way of looking over your day. It helps you see how God is speaking to you through the events of your day and your emotions.

A daily gratitude list can help you see God at work in your life. Just list some things which happened in the last 24 hours. These can be an encounter with a friend, a beautiful experience in nature, or just some insight you are grateful for.

There are several benefits to keeping a prayer journal.

• It will help you stay focused during prayer. For many, the act of writing will slow us down and keep our minds from racing off to whatever is coming up next in our day.
• You can go back and read previous entries. This can help you see how God is moving you through your prayer.
• You can dive into a deeper relationship with God. You might start writing and find yourself pouring out your heart to our heavenly Father and gaining new insight for how to trust in Him.
• You will develop a routine. The act of sitting down with a cup of coffee tea and a journal, getting comfortable, and planning on spending 15 minutes with God a couple of times of day has a real impact. This results in truly spending some time in a real conversation with the Lord.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina means “divine reading”. It is a prayer practice which trusts that God speaks to us through scripture. Lectio Divina is very flexible and allows room for the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Daily Examen

The Daily Examen is a powerful prayer developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It encourages us to look at our day and reflect how God is speaking to us in our experiences and emotions. The Examen helps us see how God is moving in our lives. It is especially useful for discernment.

Gratitude List

Gratitude can be one of the most fruitful forms of prayer. When we specifically notice things to be grateful for, we become aware of and acknowledge God’s constant presence in our lives. Practicing gratitude daily is a practice which can change your whole attitude and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time.