Being with God
1. Talking to God - Praying pre written prayers like the psalms or liturgy, or singing prayers at church, and so on
2. Talking with God - Conversing with God about your life. Lifting up the details of your life before God with gratitude (talking to him about what is good in your life and world), lament (talking to him about what is evil in your life and world), and petition and intercession (calling on God to fulfill hi promises to overcome evil with good)
3. Listening to God - hearing Gods voice through quiet listening, Lectio Divina, the prophetic and more
4. Being with God - just looking at God, look at you in love (also called “contemplative prayer”)

A Basic Guide for Silence and Solitude with Jesus
1. Find a Quiet Space: Choose a comfortable, distraction-free spot.
2. Set a Time: Dedicate time daily or weekly.
3. Begin with Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance.
4. Practice Silence: Focus on your breath and let go of distractions.
5. Reflect on Scripture: Contemplate a chosen Bible verse.
6. Listen: Spend a few minutes in silence, open to God’s voice.
7. Respond in Prayer: Share your thoughts with Jesus and express gratitude.

Tips
Be patient and gentle with yourself.
Make it a regular practice.

Beginner’s Guide to Practicing Sabbath

1. Choose Your Day
2. Prepare: Map out your time. Plan meals and activities ahead to minimize work.
3. Create a Sacred Space: Begin Sabbath by inviting the Holy Spirit and expressing your desire to rest in Him. Light a candle. Share a special meal. Limit digital distractions.
4. Engage in Restful Activities:
Worship: Attend church or have a time of prayer and praise.
Rest: Enjoy quiet time or a nap.
Reflection: Read the Bible or spiritual books. Journal. Be grateful. Set spiritual goals for the week ahead.
5. Connect with Family/Community: Share meals, play games, and have meaningful conversations.
6. Be outside: A walk, a hike, sit by the water.
7. Close with Prayer: End your Sabbath with a prayer of thanks and reflection.

Tips
Start Small: Begin with a few hours and gradually progress to a full day.
Practice in Community
Keep the vision pure

Beginner’s guide to fasting as a spiritual rhythm
Remember
1. Fasting mush be a Holy Spirit led endeavor from beginning to end. In other words, you must feel led to engage in this practice. Wait for a nudge from the Spirit to try it.
2. There are individuals who should not fast and they include people who are sick, people who are traveling, pregnant or nursing. Individuals with diabetes, gout, liver disease, kidney disease, ulcers, hypoglycemia, cancer and blood diseases should not fast.
3. Don’t fast if you are in a hurry and are fasting for immediate results for some decision. Fasting is not magic.

Practice
1. If you feel led, begin with prayer and begin by fasting one meal. In the time you would normally be preparing and consuming that meal, read scripture, pray, be with Jesus in a focused way.
2. Slowly work your way up to longer fasts and do so with guidance, specifically from a doctor just to make sure you’re doing this in the safest way according to your individual health profile.
3.If you’ve gone for a long period of time, a whole day for example. Break your fast with a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter or fresh fruit. The longer the fast the more you need to break the fast gently with small amounts of food.

Cautions
1. Initially, fasting can be pride inducing. Heed Jesus’ exhortation.
2. Stay hydrated.
3. You might experience strange or uncomfortable physical symptoms.
4. You will have new windows of time complete with mind and heart space where you are invited to enter the presence of God. Much like solitude this can be a daunting reality. Do not fear! Keep the vision found in those five purposes of fasting out in front of you.

A guide to help make scripture a consistent rhythm

• Start with the paradigm shift. “Scripture is an act of literary communication” Make study synonymous with contemplation and reflection. Seek to not merely know about God but know God.
• When you open scripture pray, Come Holy Spirit and speak that I might hear.
• Practice Lectio Divina, It’s a latin phrase that means divine reading. It’s an ancient practice of reading a passage multiple times, paying attention to words or phrases that stand out to you and offering them up to God that he might speak or move in your life. It can be practiced alone or in community.
• Read: Read a passage of Scripture and listen for words or phrases that speak to you
• Reflect: Read the passage again and reflect on what God is saying to you
• Respond: Read the passage a third time and respond to God with your heart
• Rest: Read the passage a final time and rest in God’s presence
• Practice scripture memorization.
• Through memorization, when our bible isn’t in reach, His word speaks and offers guidance, comfort and even healing at crucial times.
• Practice scripture recitation. Read passages aloud when alone, or with your family, as a part of meals and at community groups. This is how generations of people engaged with scripture.
• Practice expository study in community with the help of friends and associates of the Way. Utilize biblehub.com.

A Beginners Guide to the Practice of Generosity
1. Understand Generosity
Generosity is about living in sync with God’s generous character. It’s about blessing people through the giving of encouragement, resources, kindness, or attention without expecting anything in return. It’s a mindset of abundance.
2. Start Small
Begin with simple acts—like listening, offering help, or giving compliments. Small gestures can have a big impact.
3. Give Time & Presence
Volunteering, offering emotional support, or simply spending quality time with someone are powerful ways to be generous.
4. Cultivate Gratitude
A grateful mindset fosters generosity. Recognize the good in your life and share it with others.
5. Give Selflessly
True generosity means giving without expecting anything back—whether it’s your time, resources, or attention.
6. Practice Forgiveness
Forgiving others freely is one of the most generous gifts you can offer, strengthening relationships and promoting peace.
7. Make It a Habit
Incorporate generosity into your daily life, whether through small actions or larger commitments, like volunteering or donating.
8. Live with an Abundant Mindset
See opportunities to give everywhere. Embrace generosity as a way of life, not just an occasional act.

Beginners Guide to the Spiritual Practice of Community

Start small: Begin by gathering a few friends or acquaintances to share a meal. Have each person bring a different dish. Pray before your meal to give thanks and invite the Holy Spirit. During the meal, read a from a Psalm or the words of Jesus. Discuss what stood out to you or share where you experienced God in the past 24 hours. Linger in conversation and when it comes time to end, close by praying for each other.

1. Join with Intent: Seek communities aligned with your spiritual values or goals.
2. Engage Actively: Show up regularly, listen deeply, and participate fully.
3. Embrace Compassion: Value diversity, practice patience, and offer support.
4. Share Responsibility: Contribute your gifts and help sustain the group.
5. Communicate Openly: Foster trust and address conflicts with empathy.
6. Live Your Values: Apply what you learn in the community to daily life.
7. Celebrate Together: Acknowledge milestones and strengthen connections through shared rituals.