Spiritual Practices For solo times with God
This page originated during Covid as we discovered we had a need for spiritual practices to frame our newly empty time. But as Covid has receded and the tide of normal life stresses has returned this page is maybe even more important as we need to be more intentional to deeply anchor ourselves in the love God.
the daily examen (About 5 minutes)
The Daily Examen is a monastic practice, and this version of it is taken from Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius Loyola.
First, become aware of God’s presence. Take a few deep breaths. Allow yourself to feel the presence of the holy spirit.
Next, review the day with gratitude. Think back through the events of your day, noting the small joys or delights. It could be a conversation with a friend, or just the sun hitting your face at a certain moment. Savor whatever comes to mind, and thank God for those moments. Review your day, from start to finish, noticing where you experienced God’s presence. When did you love, when were you loved and when was the presence of God there?
Next move on to the moments of sorrow, or where the absence of God was felt. When did the day feel hard or when did you have strong emotions? Where do you need forgiveness? What does God want to reveal about those moments?
Finally look toward tomorrow, Thank Jesus for his insight and ask for hope and peace in the day to come.
Meet God in the MUNDANE (5 mins to 30 mins)
As you do basic household tasks, like washing the dishes or making your bed, reflect on how God brought order out of chaos, and how we are made in God’s image with this inner desire to bring order our of chaos, invite God to be present with you as you work.
meet God in the quiet (5 mins)
Our inner monologues are exhausting. Try turning it off for 5 minutes and resting in silence, feel free to set an alarm so you know when you are done. To help you focus choose a root word, like “peace” or “Love” you can also read a passage of scripture to clear your mind. During the 5 minutes of silence if you find your train of thought starting up again, don’t judge yourself, just acknowledge it, say your root word again, and try to enter back into silence and rest in the presence of God. It is super hard to do this, but when you try it gives you a picture of how stressful it is to be in our heads! Start with 5 minute sessions and see if you can work your way up to longer ones. You might find it puts the stresses of daily life into perspective.
HANDS UP HANDS DOWN (5 to 30 mins)
This comes from Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline (a great resource for solitude practices). begin by putting your hands down and think about everything that is stressing you out, as they come to mind say “God I release _____________ to you”. After you have finished releasing those issues to God, turn your hands up, and go back through the list and say “God I receive your peace about _______________.” God doesn’t just want to take away stress, he wants to give us peace in its place.
Guided meditation (18 minutes)
Labyrinth (20 mins to an hour)
Walking a labyrinth is an ancient monastic practice that adds a physical component to the way we are searching for answers and peace from God.
During Covid19 we don’t have the privilege of visiting a monastery with a beautiful labyrinth in an outdoor garden, but we can turn our back yard or living room into a space to walk a labyrinth. The simplest way to do this is to slowly walk in circles in whatever space you have, starting at the edges of your space and then forming tighter and tighter circles like a tether ball that gets closer to the center each circle it makes. You will pause in the center to listen to God, and as you walk gradually larger circles out of the center you will reflect.
To prepare, sit quietly a few moments before walking the Labyrinth. Some people come with questions, others come to slow down from a busy life. Walking the labyrinth is a prayer, a walking meditation.
As you walk in tighter circles towards the center of the space open yourself to God’s voice and begin to by asking God “What is the question I have for you today?” listen to both yourself and to God for your question to clarify. If you do this practice daily the question could stay the same or morph over time.
Walk towards the center in prayerful silence, the labrynth is a metaphor: we are pulling back the layers of self deception to walk towards deeper understanding, self knowledge, and awareness of God voice. As you near the center continue to ask your question and try to draw nearer to the presence of God. It can be helpful to imagine God’s presence at the center waiting for you. You also could bring paper and write down the questions that come up as you walk and leave them at the center when you get there.
At the heart and center of the labyrinth is a peaceful, quiet circle for rest. Rest there and wait for God’s voice until you have the answer, assurance, or peace that you did this for.
When you are ready to walk back out, walk the same path you came in, and as you do reflect on whatever answer, assurance, or peace God had for you today.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina (which translated the divine reading) was introduced as a Christian practice in the 4th century by Gregory of Nyssa.
It’s a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words. In Lectio Divina, the chosen spiritual text is read four times in total, giving an opportunity to think deeply about it. When we practice Lectio Divina, we can imagine we’re actually involved in the events of Scripture — for example, hearing God’s words to the Israelites in the desert. It’s meant to be an intensely personal experience
Prepare
Maybe light a candle, or take some deep breaths, pray a prayer of invitation, saying something like, “God, let me hear from you,” and spend a few moments sitting quietly so your mind is open to hearing from God.
Lectio (Read)
The first reading is an opportunity to get to know the passage. Listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently for God to give guidance.
Meditatio (Reflect)
The second reading of the same passage focuses further on the points you became aware of during the first reading. Often I’ll just re-read a few verses so I can reflect carefully on where God has nudged me.
Then I’ll reflect on what I believe God is saying. I try not to analyze the passage. It’s easy to slip into “study mode” and think about interesting points rather than listening to what God might be saying. It helps to ask God to make His focus clear.
Oratio (Respond)
After a third reading, it’s time to respond. Ask if God is inviting you to make some sort of change. Maybe record your thoughts by journaling or respond in prayer,
Contemplatio (Rest)
After the final reading, spend some time in silent contemplation. If your mind starts to wander and dart bring it gently back to stillness again.
There are many sources of inspiration to help develop the practice of Lectio Divina. Soul Shepherding has a collection of downloadable guides, and LectioDivina.org also has some helpful examples of journaling. It’s important to remember that Lectio Divina is not an end in itself or another spiritual practice to tick off our to-do list. It helps us hear specifically and individually from God through Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and deepens our relationship with Him.
Meditation on the cross
The hands of the gentle carpenter are nailed violently to the cross. The Creator and King of the Universe is crowned with painful thorns. Now Jesus sets us free by willingly enduring death on a tree.
Scripture reading
Psalm 22 John 18-19
Prayer
Holy and loving God, as we prepare to set aside the things that distract us, the things we fill our time with, our anxiety, our frustration and loneliness, help us to focus on Your suffering and death. We ask for eyes to see the beautiful things that Your death means for us, what it says about your love, your understanding, our freedom and joy.
Great God, our Father: As we remember Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane, our hearts are filled with shame that we foolishly waste our time in idleness, that we let distractions and lusts and low desires take us away from spending time with you, from knowing you, from realizing the fullness of your love and sacrifice for us. Forgive us for our indifference to the cross, for we truly need a Savior. Teach us the good news of your forgiveness. Help us to to live anew, and hasten the day when the whole world shall be born again. Amen
Loving God, we know that you love us, so we confess that we have let you down. Every day we betray you, deny you, misunderstand you, crucify you. We betray you when we are selfish or unkind. We deny you when we do not speak out for justice and truth. We misunderstand you when we justify our actions by misquoting your teaching. We are truly sorry, and we wait for your word of love. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Meditate on The Traditional Last Words of Jesus
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Loving Father, may we be included in this prayer.
How have we found ourselves being unfaithful to you? [pause for a moment of reflection]
Whether we sin out of ignorance or intention, be merciful to us and grant us your acceptance and peace in the name of Jesus Christ, our suffering Savior. Amen.
“Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
What might paradise look like? Do I believe it is a reality, have I seen a glimpse of it? [pause for a moment of reflection]
Jesus, as we sit here right now, help us to repent and receive your grace, to see your grace in this world, the fingerprints of your beauty and love, and to find hope in the promise of the world to come. Amen.
“Woman, behold your son. . . . Behold your mother.”
Jesus, in your hour of greatest suffering, of greatest stress, you expressed compassion for your mother and made arrangements for her care.
Who are you calling me to love currently? [pause for a moment of reflection]
Help us to follow your example, may we show concern and love for the needs of others, especially those effected by COVID 19. Help us to provide for those who suffer in our human family. Amen.
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)
How do I feel forsaken by God? How do I feel empty? [pause for a moment of reflection]
Jesus, we call for your help by day and in the night we are still filled with sorrow and fear and loneliness. We are weak, it feels as though we are cut off, as those whom you have forsaken, forgotten near the pit of death. We are shut in without escape. Our eyes are dim because we weep. Lord, do not hide your face from us. Amen.
“I thirst.”
How am I thirsty right now? What do I long for? [pause for a moment of reflection]
Blessed Savior, whose lips were dry and whose throat was parched, give us the water of life, that we who thirst for love, affection, peace, comfort, and hope may find ourselves quenched by your love and mercy, leading us to bring this same relief to others. Amen.
“It is finished.”
As you finished the work that you were sent to do; enable us by your Holy Spirit to be faithful to our call.
What have you called us to do? Who have you called us to love, what have you told us to do with our hands? [Pause for a moment of reflection].
Grant us strength to bear our crosses and endure our sufferings, even unto death. Enable us to live and love so faithfully that we also become good news to the world, linked to your likeness, Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Father, into whose hands your Son, Jesus Christ, commended his spirit, grant that we too, following his example, may in all of life and at the moment of our death entrust our lives into your faithful hands of love. In the name of Jesus, who gave his life for us all. Amen.
Based on Psalm 88; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:34, 43, 46; John 19:26-30
Closing Prayer
May we find in the cross a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven. And may the blessing of God go with us, now and forevermore. Amen.
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet walk with you on the road. May the Christ who serves with wounded hands stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart open your hearts to love. May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet, and may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you. Amen
