Today we are sharing a few prompts to encourage you during your personal spiritual time. We hope this collection will inspire you to be kind to yourself and others as you move through your week.
Prayer from Bread for the Day
Listening God, you are always more ready to hear our prayers than we are to pray. Remind us how precious your saints’ prayers are to you, ascending from the hands of angels. Receive the hopes and longings of our hearts as they rise like incense to you.
Hymn
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” (ELW 490)
Prayer practice
Set a timer for five minutes and do a “free-write” prayer. Use a journal or the notes app in your smartphone to write all that comes to mind. Whether it’s a list of gratitude or a collection of stressors and to-dos, allow yourself to write a stream of consciousness prayer to offer to the Lord. There’s no right or wrong way to do this—just try it and see what comes to mind!
Affirmation
I am worthy of protection and care. God is with me and knows my needs, even when I don’t know how to articulate them.
Acts of kindness
- Organize a canned food drive to benefit a local nonprofit that works with those struggling with food insecurity in your community.
- Volunteer with a local mentorship organization or after-school program and invite friends and family to join you.
- Check the website of your local ELCA congregation for a list of staff members. Send a handwritten letter of encouragement to each person and include a written prayer for them.
- Call your local congregation and see if there is a need for Sunday morning volunteers. Offer to work in the nursery or youth ministry or to serve in the worship ministry.
- Buy flowers or plants from your local garden or flower shop to donate to a teacher or administrator in your community.
