by Sarah Carson
We have long known that conversation doesn’t just happen with language. So if prayer is a way to enter into conversation with God, doesn’t it follow that God might be open to communicating in the vast and varied ways humans are able to listen, understand, and respond?
Just as two friends might look for exciting or engaging ways to spend time together—a movie, a board game, or an evening walk—we can engage with God via nearly every activity in our lives. Here are a few ideas:
1. Silent Prayer or Inner Stillness
You may find that silence says more than words ever can. Silent prayer is less about speaking, and more about listening. It’s a form of meditation, where you simply sit with yourself and whatever sense of presence you feel—whether that’s the divine, your intuition, or the mystery of life itself.
How to begin:
- Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
- Focus on your breath, a calming word, or simply the feeling of being present.
- Allow your mind to settle. If thoughts arise, notice them gently and let them go.
This kind of prayer is about being rather than doing. It’s about creating space for insight, peace, and clarity to arise naturally.
2. Written Prayer or Journaling
Journaling can be a great way to articulate the prayers and concerns that you might not even have the words for yet.
Ideas for written prayer:
- Keep a prayer journal, noting what you’re praying for and what you’re thankful for.
- Write letters to God, even if they’re filled with questions or doubts.
- The Women of the ELCA resource, Journaling: Create Your Own Sacred Writings, can also he a great place to start. (https://www.womenoftheelca.org/filebin/pdf/resources/Journaling.pdf)
3. Creative Expression as Prayer
Art, music, poetry, or even simple doodles can be spiritual acts when done with intention. Creating something from your heart can be a way to process emotions, send love into the world, or align with your higher self.
Explore creativity as prayer by:
- Playing music that matches your mood and letting your body respond.
- Painting or sketching what your soul feels (not just what you see).
- Writing poems or affirmations that come to you as you play with words.
Prayer doesn’t always need to be quiet—it can be expressive, bold, messy, and alive.
4. Prayer Through Action
For many, actions are a form of prayer—especially when done with intention, love, and mindfulness. Whether you’re volunteering, cooking a meal for someone, or simply doing your work with integrity, these acts can become sacred offerings.
To make action prayerful:
- Begin with an intention: “May this work be a blessing.”
- Stay present in the moment, offering your effort as service.
- Reflect afterward on how you experienced the divine in your actions.
5. Praying with Nature
Many people find a spiritual connection outdoors. Nature often evokes awe, gratitude, and humility—all fertile ground for prayer.
You can walk silently through a forest, speak aloud beside a river, or simply sit and observe the sky. The natural world can become a cathedral without walls.
Suggestions:
- Go on a “prayer walk” in nature, reflecting as you move.
- Offer thanks for the beauty you encounter.
- Use natural imagery in your prayers—mountains, stars, rivers—as metaphors for your spiritual experience.
6. Movement as Prayer
Not everyone connects through stillness. For some, movement is prayer. Whether it’s yoga, dancing, walking, or stretching, intentional movement can help you connect to yourself and something beyond yourself.
Try this:
- Take a walk and treat each step as a meditation or offering.
- Dance freely to music that stirs your soul.
- Practice slow yoga, focusing on breath and gratitude with each pose.
When movement is paired with intention, presence, or emotion, it becomes a powerful form of embodied prayer.
Final Thoughts
Whether you pray every day or just occasionally, remember this: prayer is less about performance and more about relationship. It’s an invitation to be honest, open, and aware.
In a noisy world, prayer can be your quiet refuge. Whether you sit in stillness, walk in the woods, write your heart out, or whisper your hopes to the night sky, your prayer is valid. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be true to you.
So take a deep breath. You’re already halfway there.
Discussion Questions:
- What is your experience with spoken prayer? Do you find it difficult to find words, or do they come easily for you?
- Do any of the above ideas for prayer speak to you? Are there any you have experience with? Or any you would like to try?
- What other activities could you imagine might be used in conjunction with or as a form of prayer?
Closing prayer:
Loving God, we give thanks for the many ways you have given us to connect with one another—in words spoken and unspoken, in gestures of kindness, and even in silence. Bless our voices, that they may speak truth. Bless our ears, that they may hear intentionally. Bless our hands, that they may act with grace and mercy. Bless our presence, that it may offer comfort when words are not enough. Amen.
Sarah Carson is a former managing editor of Gather magazine. Her book How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan is available where all books are sold. Read more of her work at stuffsarahwrote.com.
Read the other article in this issue by Sarah Carson.