Domestic Monastery
“Raising small children, if it is done with love and generosity, will do for you exactly what private prayer does.” -Ronald Rolheiser, Domestic Monastery I just read this whole (very…
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Prayer and Talking to God
I used to say that prayer is talking to God. I was trying to explain prayer to Penny’s friend Rachel, who has Down syndrome and is newly interested in Christianity. …
Praying Like a Child
I saw a little girl climb up onto her father’s lap on a Zoom call the other day. He was reclined in a large chair. At first, she lay her…
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Peeking Behind the Cosmic Curtain
Prayer is like going behind the scenes with God, like peeking behind the cosmic curtain. We once had a chance as a family to go behind the scenes of The…
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Breaking the Anxiety Boomerang
Anxiety is everywhere. I’ve bought three books that reference anxiety in the title in the past month. The pandemic prompted dramatic increases in anxiety in teens and adults. Anxiety is…
S6 E1 | Good and Beautiful and Kind with Rich Villodas
Can goodness, beauty, and kindness make any difference at all in a wounded world? Rich Villodas, pastor and author of Good and Beautiful and Kind, talks with Amy Julia Becker about…
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Three Ways to Bring Prayer to the Body
If you’ve grown up in a Protestant church tradition, as I have, you may have learned that prayer is a spiritual and intellectual experience, not a bodily one. Prayer is…
A Life-Changing Daily Prayer Practice: Prayer of Examen
I’ve prayed in lots of different ways over the years. I’ve used the acronym ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). The Lord’s Prayer has been a guide. I’ve tried contemplative prayer.…
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A Prayer for Healing
“I believe. Help my unbelief.” “Lord, save us!” “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she might live.” “Don’t you care if…
Asking for Help Is Hard
It sounds like a simple formula: Acknowledge your need. Ask for help. Participate in healing. I noticed this pattern in Jesus’ healings a while ago, and I repeated it to…
