Resources

To help with prayer and listening to the scripture here are some reflections in pdf format that may be helpful for individuals and groups. Feel welcome to download them and use them personally or in small groups. NEW RESOURCES: Balanced Spirituality and Experiential Prayer Stations (see below)

Note Documents are in PDF Format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader (free). If you are not able to download the documents below click here

- First steps in Prayer - sometimes we just need some help to begin to ‘pray’.

Download: firststepsinprayer

- Obstacles to Prayer - sometimes we question why we don’t like prayer or what is going wrong?

Download:  obsctaclestoprayer

-Journaling -  writing down and finding creative ways of expressing what you are going through in your life journey is a practise that has helped so many people in their spiritual journey

Download: journaling

-Lectio Divina -  Spiritual Reading or Reflective Reading is a practice taught by many great spiritual writers. It is possibly the most taught practise to help people in prayer.
Download: lectiodivina

- Centering Prayer - Sometimes we have difficulty controlling our thoughts and imagination during our prayer time. Centering Prayer helps to focus our mind and our heart.
Download: centeringprayer

-Imaginative Prayer – Our Imagination can be a really helpful friend to imagine scenes and help us enter a conversation with God. This prayer method is taught by St Ignatius and many others.
Download: imaginativeprayer

-Praying with a Psalm – The Psalms express all the feelings that we go through in our human journey, our ups and our downs. Sometimes when we don’t know how to pray the psalms can help us get in touch with how we or others in the world may be feeling – and we pray the words deeply to God.
Download: prayingthepsalms

-Examination of Consciousness - St Ignatius encouraged everyone to develop an awareness of the presence of God in their daily life. This little practice is helpful to notice what God has been up to in your day – and if you were ‘aware’
Download: examination of consciousness

-finding a spiritual director / companion - Sharing with someone about your spiritual journey is possibly one of the most helpful steps one can make in their spiritual journey. It requires one to meet regularly with someone and to simply share honestly. Its helpful having another pair of ears listening to discern where God may be at work. Some people may not be ready for the commitment and honesty needed – Take a read and consider if God is calling you to the next step of commitment to spiritual growth.

Download: spiritualdirector

A Balanced Spirituality - the history of Christian Spirituality shares with us a variety of practices. Being balanced in our spirituality and following of Jesus can mean we need to recognise some spiritual traditions that may not be our own preference.

Download: balancedspirituality

Experiential Prayer – Sometimes it is helpful to experience a variety of ways of praying. Some enjoy scripture, some enjoy pictures, candles, rocks, nature… The Experiential Prayer Stations in the download document describe a number of ‘stations’ that could be set up to help a group pray and reflect. Enjoy

Download: experiential prayer stations

Download template: livingthewordtemplateword