Lenten Practices, Ashes

“You are dust and to dust you shall return” shall be said over millions of Christians on Ash Wednesday as their foreheads are marked with ash by the sign of the cross. Many of these millions will receive peculiar looks by those who are not familiar with the practice. Even for those who recognize it as something Christians do to mark the beginning of the season of Lent, many may still wonder why? Why be marked with ashes? What’s the deal? In the Old Testament, the wearing of ashes was a sign of personal regret at sin, an expression of a desire to change and of humility. 

Ashes for Christians echo these Old Testament meanings, Lent is a season of intense spiritual training. A season when Christians are to take stock of their lives, express regret for their sins and failures and with God’s help seek to grow more fully into the kind of persons God would have them be. This is something Christians should do year-round but in Lent, it is intensified. Ashes are also a reminder of our mortality. You will die. I will die. There is no escaping this fact. Coming to terms with the brevity of this earthly life, sharpens the focus for how we should live.

By receiving ashes, you are recognizing one of the fundamental of human realities which must be grasped to live life well. Many of our societies are keen to ignore the reality of death, to pretend it doesn’t exist. This recognition of our morality on Ash Wednesday is not an exercise of doom and gloom, but of inspiration toward living life well with God, with others, and with all of creation. The Christian faith proclaims a life that is everlasting, but before we can cling to that hope, we must first come to terms with death. Receiving ashes is one way of doing this.

Lenten Practices, intro

This Lent, I’ll be writing a six-part series entitled, “Lenten Practices.” Lent is my favorite season of the Christian year. I look forward to Lent ever year. As the days grow closer, a sense of expectation fills my spirit. It’s not as strange as it sounds (Granted, I often sound strange, especially when practicing for my annual Lenten yodeling concert). I’m a fan and observer of Lent because of the season’s powerful potential to be used by God to transform your life and mine. How can it do that? 

Because Lent is a time where many Christians engage in some sort of intentional spiritual practice. For many there is still the idea that “I should do something for Lent” whether that’s “giving something up” or “taking something on” (I recommend both). The word Lent comes from the Old English word, lencten, which means, spring. Lent is meant to be a spring time for your soul. A time of growth and new life. It has been referred to as a period of spring cleaning. It might also be thought of as a period of spring training.

Many sports teams get back into the “swing” of things during the spring. If you’ve been off the field for a few months, the initial weeks of spring training can be tough. This is often true of our observance of Lent, too. But by God’s grace, we keep at it despite our slips, falls, and fouls. It’s a shame many congregations and Christians don’t take advantage of the potential of Lent (or host Lenten yodeling concerts). To benefit from this traditional season of reflection, repentance, and renewal you need to do a little planning. Plan now for how you will observe Lent. (Yodel here).  

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Sabbath

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of Sabbath. This has its origins in the Old Testament “Where God rested on the seventh day” (Genesis 2:2-3, NRSV). This became one of the defining marks of faith in the one God, the keeping of this seventh day of rest, “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath…you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:8-10). That’s found in that top ten list, remember? 

Sunday became the Sabbath (versus Saturday) for Christians. Some of you will recall or recall relatives reminiscing about a time when, in North American anyway, things shut down on Sunday as a way of honoring the importance of Sabbath and communal worship. For the most part, that time is over; which means, it is even more important that we create times for Sabbath in our homes and our lives. If you don’t, the world will gladly eat up all your time with its noise, with its screens, and with its endless offerings and demands (Netflix anyone…). 

Sabbath is about rest and renewal. Sabbath is about creating space to be restored in one’s relationship with God, with others, and with all of creation. It is a time for joy. It’s a time for respite. It is a time for re-creating the life of God in you. The old meaning behind our word, recreation. It is a time for making expensive gifts to your pastor (Just making sure you were reading carefully). Sitting in front of a screen and being numbly entertained may be a welcome way of winding down, but does it restore us? Does it bring you together with those you love? 

It might, but it might also be a convenient way to ignore the real issues in our homes, hearts, and relationships (including with God). Yes, to a movie night, but what about a weekly unplugged night? No screens. Just people. Just a book. Just a walk. You could have a daily hour of reading where all in the home read. Resurrecting Sunday night family dinners is also a way of practicing Sabbath (as our date nights for couples). Maybe Sundays (after worship) you dedicate to family and friends. How are you doing with this or how might you begin? 

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Prayer

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of prayer. A trait that should mark a “Christian home” is a home that is marked by regular prayer. Prayer is one of the chief means by which we pursue our relationship with God. Prayer is one of the chief means, perhaps the most fruitful and faithful, of inviting God into the nooks and crannies of our hurts and joys, pleasures and annoyances (Praying in traffic comes to mine). Prayer isn’t meant to be a pause from life, but part of life. 

Faithful discipleship involves the cultivation of faithful habits. We are creatures accustomed to and stubbornly inclined toward habituation. Creating routines of prayer in the home can help open ourselves to the often hidden, sometimes surprising, sparks of the Holy Spirit. One way of doing this is by praying in regular spots on a regular basis. Praying grace at meals or at least one meal, is a way of doing this. It’s also an easy way to start. Another is when you get up in the morning and when you go to sleep at night (or can’t sleep at night). 

After all, many people when trying to get up in the morning or prior to sleeping at night invoke the Lord’s name. (Often vigorously!). Expand it into a regular prayer. The great teachers of the spiritual life across the Christian Tradition recommend a daily time of prayer. For most people, this is probably best done at home. Maybe you have a prayer chair or family altar where you can have your “quiet time” with the Lord. It need not be long, being consistent for two minutes a day is better than occasionally praying for twenty minutes but then not again for a week. 

If you are praying with others, like a significant other, roommates, or the terrors of cuteness that we call children, you will need to adapt your prayer to what works for all. This may mean shorter and simpler types of prayer. That’s fine. Some families have a custom of Bible reading and prayer (“family devotions”) once a week or briefly at night, including some households that pray some form of the Daily Office or Compline. A home marked by prayer is a home opening itself to the love of God. How are you doing with this or how might you begin?

Spiritual Practices at Home: The Practice of Reminder

One of the essential spiritual practices of the Christian life in general and of living the faith at home, is the practice of reminder. “Out of sight, out of mind” is well-worn aphorism, because of its veracity. In our screen infested age, we might also say, “Screen in sight, no sight of mind.” This is due to the screen’s phenomenal power to capture our mind’s attention, obliterating the world around us. The practice of reminder is all about reminding ourselves of the reality of God and the reality of our commitment to the God of love revealed in Jesus Christ. 

This is more than simply a reminder, such as a post it-note on the refrigerator door or stapled to the dog’s tail (I apologize, the Cat Lovers of Canada requested I include that line). This is a symbolic reminder. We are symbol hungry and symbol making creatures. Nobody needs to tell us this. Nobody needs to tell people to decorate their homes with items that reflect who they are and what they value. Family pictures, movie posters, and so on. Yet, I ask, are there any symbols of the faith displayed in your home? (Red Sox pennants don’t count, close, but no!)

There is a long tradition of Eastern Christians displaying icons in their home, sometimes called an icon wall. In the West, there is the long and wonderful custom of a family altar. A small altar or devotional space that includes saints’ pictures, prayers, and is often changed to reflect the season of the Church year. In more Protestant circles, a prominently displayed family Bible and sometimes also, Bible verses. Among Anglican Christians, a visible Book of Common Prayer. Among Lutherans, a displayed casserole (Yes, that was joke. I prefer Lutefisk, anyway.)

It is not necessary to have a full chapel in your home (though some people have these, really), but it is wise to have some holy reminders, some symbols of the faith, to remind you of your Christian faith. In fact, the idea is for them to be less churchy and more-homey or less gathered church and more domestic church. Let it reflect your personality and any others in your household. Be as creative as you like. There are lots of resources out there. Start small. How are you doing with this or how might you begin?

Spiritual Practices at Home, intro

This Advent, I’ll be writing a three-part blog series, “Spiritual Practices at Home.” Advent is a wonderful season of the Church year for home observance with its Advent wreaths, calendars, and more. But here is the big secret…all the seasons of the Christian year are wonderful for home observance! Growth in discipleship, the pursuit of spirituality maturity, is an adventure of integrating faith in Christ with every aspect of our lives. Our homes, whether a humble room or grand house, influence us immensely and usually reflect ourselves in ways flattering and not so flattering (Really, it’s time to take down that M.C. Hammer poster.) 

Bringing your faith to bear visibly in the most intimate spaces of your life is an important step forward in the journey of Christian discipleship. Home observance of the faith is for all Christians. Certainly, there are practices that lend themselves to family life (in all the wonderful and weary forms it can take), but whether by yourself, with roommates, your significant other, your animal friend, or a house full of small people, the riches of our Christian heritage for daily life are immense. 

When observed faithfully, not perfectly, not dramatically, but regularly, over the months and years, they can serve as quiet shapers of our souls and steady channels of God’s grace, transforming us day by day into people of greater Spirit and Love. Are there particular aspects of home practice you are hoping I explore? (Perhaps the exorcism of that space filled with stuff you haven’t looked at in years?) Do you have recommendations or suggestions to make? They are always most welcome. Please share them as move through the series. 

Sermons: Considerations for Pew Sitters

In today’s media age, we are constantly bombarded with messages, whether on TV, via our hand-held device or computer, and through a continual onslaught of traditional in-print advertizing. This has caused all of us to be rather selective in our attentions, forcing new-casters and product peddlers to coat their pitches with entertaining stories, visual pleasantries and a pretended informality.

Then we find ourselves on a Sunday morning listening to a sermon. Today’s preachers are forced to compete (at least by subconscious comparison) with talk show hosts, comedians and some of the country’s most creative and talented (and often heretical) preachers, otherwise known as televangelists. Certainly, all of these cultural considerations should demand that preachers take their task even more seriously and work both on improving their content and how they deliver it.

Yet, as Christians, we each have a responsibility to make the most of every sermon we hear. The sermon is an opportunity to explore the themes of Scripture more deeply; to be challenged and comforted by God’s Word, and just maybe, to hear specific instructions for our life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Here are eight suggestions for how you can make the most of every sermon you hear.

First, get a good night’s sleep. It is far easier to focus on the liturgy and to worship our Lord after having had enough rest. Of course, there will be times when we come half-awake to worship merely out of habit and commitment and this is a good thing, but we will have far more ability to take in the sermon and to be alert for the Holy Spirit if we are wide awake.

Second, arrive early and settle in. If you’re in the parenting stage of life arriving early and settling in will be more difficult, though not always impossible. Being there early allows you to breathe and push aside distracting thoughts. When we come late or barely on time it often takes half the service (including the sermon!) for us to clear our minds and give our full attention to what is happening in the liturgy.

Third, review the Scripture readings ahead of time. Some people do this as a personal practice on the Saturday night before worship. This isn’t a bad idea and could be a way for individuals or families to get ready for Sunday worship. More people do this prior to the service which highlights the importance of arriving early.

Fourth, pray. Prayer could be listed along with every other suggestion I’m making in this article. Pray over the readings, pray that you will be awake, pray that God will speak through the preacher to you, and the entire congregation. Pray after the sermon that God would give you the strength to live out its message.

Fifth, stay focused during the sermon. This, as most worshippers know, is not as easy as it sounds. Make an intentional choice not to look at the person walking in or to stare at the baby in the pew ahead of you who is playing with her mother. Depending on your day and how things are going, it’s also easy to just fade away into distant thought or into a sort of trance. Even if the preacher is not engaging, you have a responsibility to listen and hear what God might be saying.  

Sixth, talk about the sermon afterwards. This is a good habit to cultivate. Spouses and family members can do this on the ride home, as can friends out a lunch after worship. Knowing you are going to have to talk about the sermon with someone will help your retention considerably. In addition, these sorts of conversations can be spiritually uplifting in themselves and often your conversation partner will have been moved by portions of the sermon you weren’t.

Seventh, on occasion follow up with the preacher about the sermon. Preachers usually receive little meaningful feedback about the sermons they deliver. Following up with the preacher to ask a question or make a comment will help you to digest God’s Word more easily. In addition, you may provide some much needed encouragement to a preacher who is wondering why he or she bothers to spend so much time in preparing sermons that no one responds to.

Eighth, review the sermon later in the week. This would be a good discipline to do mid-week to check how much you remember and more importantly, how well you are living out the message of the sermon in your daily life. You could review your sermon notes (yes some people take these!) or listen to the sermon again via a podcast or a CD made available by the parish. Certainly, a written manuscript would also be helpful, though most sermons are designed to be heard rather than to be read.

By recognizing the importance of the Word of God and by implementing one or more of these suggestions you will be more likely to fulfill the Anglican vision for engagement with Holy Scripture: “Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen“(BCP, 236). 

 

Christian Practices, Part 6 – Giving Generously

The last practice I want to talk about this Lent is the Christian practice of giving. I saved this practice for last for a couple of reasons. First, to understand giving from a Christian perspective requires you look at it through a discipleship grid which includes the five other practices we’ve already talked about (worship, prayer, Bible reading, serving, and spiritual friendships). Second, I have found that for many Christians the handling and use of money is one of the last areas to fall under the Lordship of Christ in their daily lives.

Many non-profit organizations approach giving as a thankful response for a service that one enjoys. Here giving is “doing your part” and is mostly about making an annual membership pledge (churches should be careful not to equate Christian stewardship with this kind of non-profit perspective on giving). Giving from a Christian perspective rests on the reality that everything in creation, including our own lives, are gifts given to us by God. The question of Christian stewardship is not how much will we give, but how much will we keep.

In a broad sense, the practice of giving is about ownership and control. Am I in control of my stuff or is God in control of my stuff? While discussions about tithing and proportional giving are important (see here for a funny video on this subject) Christian giving cannot be reduced to the idea of making a pledge to your church. Giving generously also involves how lightly we hold our possessions, how much stuff we think we need to live well, and how willing are we to respond to need (whether a beggar on the street or a disaster across the world.)

Would you describe yourself as a person who gives generously? What small step toward more generously giving can you take this week? 

Christian Practices, Part 5 -- Spiritual Friendships

Jesus did not work with individuals per se, that is, He always worked with individuals in the context of a community or within a network of friendships. When an individual was isolated from other people of faith Jesus always sought to bring them back into relationship with God’s people. We need each other not only to worship in the corporate sense or to serve together to do good things in the world, but we need each other for Christian, or as I will call it here, spiritual friendship.

Growth into true humanness, which is another way of referring to spiritual development, is largely impossible without spiritual friendships. Friendships, even in the general sense, are one of the great gifts of life. The absence of meaningful friendships is a problem that many people suffer from everyday.

Spiritual friendship includes all of the components of a regular friendship with the additional element of a shared commitment to Jesus Christ. All Christians should have at least two or three believing friends. These spiritual friendships are incredibly important because these friendships will able to support and encourage your faith as it relates to every aspect of your life: family, work, relationships, hobbies, everything. Strong spiritual friendships will hold up your faith when it is weak, will challenge you to think about God in new ways, and will speak truth into your life when you’re getting out of line.

Some people have formal spiritual friends (click here) others simply break new ground in an existing friendship by including Christ in the conversation. Spiritual friendship has been written about extensively throughout Christian history (see here for one perspective), but finds its origins in the concept that as followers of Jesus Christ we are family to one another, brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you don’t have any spiritual friends start looking for some, take your time, go slowly, and ask God to guide you to the right people.

In what ways have your spiritual friends sustained and challenged your faith?

Christian Practices, Part 4 -- Service to Others

Christian life can never be reduced to a “me and Jesus” sort of spirituality because Jesus never gave us such an individualistic and self-centered option. His summary of the Old Testament Law forces us to reckon with the reality that our love for God will be demonstrated in our love for our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). This can sound quite respectable until we realize we must love the neighbors we like as well as those we do not. In addition, if our life of corporate worship is to have any integrity we have to live out the songs we sing on Sunday in our actions throughout the week. For most Christians, serving others in Jesus name takes place in two primary environments.  

The first environment being the gathered Church, here every Christian should have some sort of ministry or regular opportunity for service. This could range from ushering, to leading a men’s group, to serving on a parish council, preaching, fixing the toilet, making cupcakes for the youth group, monitoring the church’s investment account, etc. whatever, as long as it is done for others in Christ’s name. For most Christians the gathered Church should NOT be their primary area of service to others.

The second environment for service, and for most Christians the primary environment for service to others, will take place outside of the gathered church, in other words in everyday life, outside of the church building. This means at work, in the neighborhood, in politics, in recreational groups, in every aspect of life outside of the gathered Church. Doing this is not easy and involves learning to make connections between one’s faith and every other aspect of one’s life. Serving beyond the confines of our local church challenges our faith in a number of ways:

1. It challenges us to realize that Christian faith, if it is going to matter, has to impact our daily living.

2. It challenges us to realize that being involved in every activity at Church could actually be a problem, as it prevents one from serving out in the community.

3. It challenges us to get comfortable with serving with non-Christians and with good causes that may be purely secular but are doing good things in our community none the less.

4. It challenges us to realize that ministry and service is not just for the Mother Teresa’s or the preachers of the world, but for all of us.

5. It challenges us to remember that the real work of being a Christian usually takes place outside of official church gatherings and meetings.

So remember to serve at your local church, but also remember to serve beyond your local church.

How has your spiritual life grown as a result of serving others, both at church, and beyond?

Christian Practices, Part 3 – Bible Reading

Often Christians question what God wants them to do, who God wants them to become, and how they should live. I understand this dilemma and the desire to have a “word from the Lord” for one’s life. I’ve felt painfully in need of direction from God many times in my life.

But of course, we do have a Word from the Lord, we do have guidance from God about what to do, who we should become, and how we should live – it’s called the Bible. At this suggestion many Christian balk, roll their eyes, or state with complete honesty, “yeah but I don’t read the Bible” or “I’m not sure about the Bible.” Despite the struggles of some believers with Holy Scripture, it has been the experience and witness of Christians for over 2000 years that God speaks and guides through the pages of the Bible.  

That’s why Christian teachers and pastors, especially in the Protestant Tradition, have so emphasized personal, daily Bible reading. When we refuse to study or read Scripture we are in essence refusing to listen to the voice of God. Yes, learning to read the Bible well takes some effort and practice. Yes, God does not always leap out of the pages of the Bible and speak to us, whether audibly or in our hearts, but none the less God still speaks.

The Bible makes it clear that we are to “Love God” and “love our neighbors” that we are to “go make disciples” and that we are to give “cheerfully” and that we are to talk with our children about the ways of God when we are at “home” and “on the way.”

In other words, the Bible provides us with plenty of guidance about how we should live and the kind of people we should be becoming by the grace of God.

As you seek to become a better student of the Bible here are some things to keep in mind:

1. The difference between academic and spiritual study. Yes, these two forms of study can go together, but for Christians we are primarily seeking to hear from the Spirit of God through the pages of the Bible for our life and the life of others. There are countless stories of men and women going to college and taking an academic course on the Bible which instead of building up their faith actually weakens it. So seek out Bible study opportunities and Bible study materials that have a spiritual focus.

2. If you’re just starting, focus on reading smaller sections a day. There are no bonus points for reading through several chapters a day. The point is engage with the section of the Bible you are reading and to prayerfully consider what God may be saying to you.

3. Don’t only study the Bible by yourself. The Bible is a book meant for a particular people, God’s people. Find a Bible study group to participate in.

4. Get an understanding of the big picture of the Bible, once you understand the major storyline and movements of the Bible understanding smaller sections is much easier (shameless plug here). 

Wherever you are in relation to daily Bible reading don’t give up, keep at it, and dive deeper into the mystery of God’s Word.

Christian Practices, Part 2 – Corporate Worship

Worship is more than an event, a church activity or collection of songs. As human beings it is in our spiritual DNA to worship. We were created to worship and to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ in particular.  We miss out on a large part of what it means to be human when we do not worship, or when we worship wrongly, or when we worship in shallow and superficial ways (see here for example).

There is much talk in the Church today about being “purpose-driven” or “missional” or “evangelistic” or “cool” or “civic minded” or “whatever” but first and foremost the purpose of the Church (meaning you and me, we are the Church as Christians) is to glorify God. Glorifying God involves more than worship, at least worship in the corporate sense that I am discussing here, but it certainly must included it.

According to the Book of Common Prayer , “in corporate worship, we unite ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God’s Word, and to offer prayer, and to celebrate the sacraments.” Worship in this sense cannot be done alone. Yes, we can worship “privately” as it were with prayer and praise on the golf course, out in the woods, or wherever, but we cannot worship in the corporate sense by ourselves. If we fail to worship with others, we fail to worship as God intends.

Sometimes there is talk of making worship more entertaining or relevant or useful, but while there is a pinch of a point to be made from these suggestions worship is not meant in any primary sense to be entertaining or relevant or useful. The point of worship is to adjust our focus from ourselves, our joys and concerns, and to focus on the life of Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is to unplug from “me” and to connect with “we” while focusing on “thee.”  

The regularity of corporate worship is extremely important as well. Weekly corporate worship is important not only because of its implications for the development of relationships in a congregational family, but because we as fallen human beings need to be regularly reminded of who we are as God’s people. In the Anglican tradition there is an emphasis on more frequent corporate worship, even daily worship, which some are still striving to live out today (see here). 

If you aren’t worshipping in community now make a first step and starting searching for a parish home. If you aren’t worshipping weekly strive to make that commitment in your Christian life. If you are worshipping regularly, dive deeper into the act of worship itself and protect yourself from the dangers of just going through the motions.

What else is important about corporate worship?

What dimensions are missing from my comments above? 

Christian Practices, Part 1 - Prayer

During Lent I will be exploring six basic practices of the Christian faith. These practices are indeed basic, one might say, fundamental to the Christian life. Lent is a good time to review the basics of Christian living and the whys and the hows of what we do and believe. Today I’ll be looking at prayer.  

Prayer is almost a universal language in the human race. Even those who do not profess to believe in any particular religion or spiritual system often pray. Prayer is at the heart of the Christian life because it is in prayer that we are able to develop our relationship with God. Prayer has often been described as conversation between God and humanity (sadly, many of us do most of the talking, giving God no room to say anything!).  

Prayer is more than speaking or thinking thoughts directed to God, however. The Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer defines prayer in this way, “Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words.” I remember the first time I read this definition I was struck by two things. First, that prayer is always a response to God. We sometimes think we are the ones initiating prayers, starting the conversation, sending the spiritual e-mail if you will, yet, in fact, God is the one who is always trying to get our attention. Our prayers are always a response to something God has done, stirred in us, or gifted us with.

Second, I was struck by the idea that prayer might be offered by deeds and even without words! Choosing to respond to an angry comment with love and patience can be a prayer if we are mindful that we are responding to God’s invitation to “turn the other cheek” and to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Praying without words brings us into the realm of Christian meditation and contemplation. There are ways of praying with images (click here for more info on imagery and prayer), there are also ways of praying without words or active thoughts – simply enjoying the presence of God (click here for more information on Christian contemplation).  

Lent is a time to work on our spiritual fitness. There seems to be a general consensus among the great spiritual writers of the Christian tradition – Catholic and Protestant –about what a healthy prayer life should look like. Here it is, in my own short form:

1. A growing Christian should pray every day. 

    2. This daily prayer should have two major expressions.

A.    A daily, scheduled private time of prayer with the Lord. This could be five minutes in the morning where you pray over your day, for your loved ones, and read some Scripture to center yourself.

B.     Little prayers throughout the day. This would include things like praying grace at meals (silently is ok in public, aloud is important at home with friends or family), but would also include short prayers offered to God in the context of daily life, such as “Lord, the kids are going crazy today. Help me and them to calm down.” “God, Bill seems to be having a tough time at work today. Help him and help me to help him.”  “Jesus, help those in that car wreck and the medical personnel who are trying to save their lives.” “Father, what a beautiful day, sunny and mild. Thank you!”etc.  

Much more could be said about prayer (see here for example, or here), but the important thing is to be praying on a regular basis. If you aren’t, stretch yourself to pray more. If you are praying regularly, stretch yourself to learn to pray in new ways.

What else would you recommend in terms of developing a stronger prayer life?