3:30 pm

Rote prayer

Rote prayer is when you pray with the Lord’s prayer when it’s hard to find words to pray.

Reflection:

When I prayed, I tried to look back at my day, however, my mind just went blank. I tried thinking about what to say to God. So, I decided to use the template of the Lord’s Prayer. When I took the time out of my day to sit down and talk to God, I took my time saying the Lord’s Prayer instead of rushing through it. I felt that I connected with this prayer, and I remembered the scene when Jesus sat down with His disciples and told them to pray with Him. Jesus said that it would help them to not feel alone in this world and to always remember that Jesus was there with them. I also didn’t feel alone and just felt comforted as if God was there with me during that time. This prayer exercise has impacted my spiritual experience because now I know that when I don’t have words to say to God, I can say the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us to communicate with Him. Instead of not praying when I have nothing to say, I can just say the Lord’s prayer and keep the close relationship that I have with God instead of drifting away.

3:00 pm

Nature prayer

Nature prayer is finding God in all the things that He created such as meadows, fields, gardens, the sky, etc., and searching for His presence.

Reflection:

On Saturday evening, I went to Cayo. And since we own a house in Cayo, I would sometimes go outside and do garden work just to clear my mind off things. While I was doing my gardening, I remembered that there was a nature prayer. So, I decided to think about all the creations that God made, and I tried to look for Him in them. I looked at the worms that ate the leaf of a plant, and thought, “That is God right there”. He’s telling these worms to live and do what they need to do to survive. I also looked at the other animals like the dogs that we have, and I think to myself that God is working with all these animals so that they can be happy and healthy in life. I smile to myself thinking that God will always be here with me. This prayer has impacted my spiritual experience because if I ever feel alone, then I can look around me and just feel God’s presence with me. This is because I know that He is always with me during the day with all the creations that He made on Earth.

8:00 am

Communal Prayer

Communal prayer happens in groups where participants are focused on God. So they pray together to worship God.

Reflection:

This day my family and I went to church, and we gathered with other people to praise God and sing songs that further worship His name. We listened to scripture readings, the songs, and the homily of the priest, came together, and just enlightened us about Jesus. I enjoyed the way the priest elaborated on the scripture passages and his homily made me think about all the things that I did wrong in my life. However, I felt glad that I learned new things and how to become closer to God. This exercise has impacted my spiritual experience because I now know that God speaks to us in groups, and He communicates with us through other people who are close to us.

10:30 am

Music Prayer

Music prayer is using music to praise God and singing along to these songs because we feel something in the lyrics that relates to us.

Reflection:

When we came home from church, we played Christian music. I sang along to the songs of Way Maker, oceans, Reckless Love of God, and other songs. I felt connected to these lyrics especially the song of reckless love of God because the lyrics talked about how God would always be here with me and no matter if I stray away, He will come looking for me and all those who are straying away. I felt happy and joyful because I knew that God will always be here with me and protect me from straying away from Him. This prayer exercise has impacted my spiritual experience because now I can feel more connected and closer to God not only by prayer but also through praise and worship songs.

5:00 pm

Composition of Place

Composition of Place is when you use your imagination and senses so that you can place yourself in the scene of a scripture passage.

Reflection:

In the scripture passage of Luke 8:22–25, it describes how the disciples of Jesus felt when a storm formed in the sea. During this passage, I was able to put myself in the disciple's shoes and re-enact the scene with Jesus. I felt just as scared as they felt, and I felt amazed at the way that Jesus told the wind and raging waters to rebuke. I felt like anything was possible once I believed in Jesus. This prayer exercise has impacted my spiritual experience because, with these new emotions, I now feel like my faith in Jesus grew and that I can trust Him to always be with me no matter what storms I may encounter, once I believe in God, then I don’t have anything to fear.