Prayer is the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. It is simply being with Jesus.

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret." — Matthew 6:6

1. Talking to God - Praying prewritten prayers like the psalms or liturgy, or singing prayers at church or at home.

2. Talking with God - Conversing with God about your life.


3. Listening to God - hearing God’s 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”.

Solitude is the practice of intentionally stepping away from noise and distraction to be with Jesus.

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
— Luke 5:16

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.

The Sabbath is a 24-hour time period set aside to stop, rest, delight, and worship.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." — Exodus 20:8

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 (free of obligation/legalism).

Fasting is going without food for a set amount of time to awaken our body and soul to our deep hunger and need for God.

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret." — Matthew 6:17-18

Remember
1. Fasting must 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 pure, rooted in being with Jesus.

The practice of Scripture involves regularly reading and contemplating God’s written Word (the Bible.)

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16

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.

1. When you open scripture pray, Come Holy Spirit and speak that I might hear.
2. 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.3. Practice scripture memorization.4. 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.
5. Practice expository study in community with the help of friends and associates of the Way. Utilize biblehub.com.

When we practice generosity, we live according to our design and tap into God’s joy.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." — Acts 20:35

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.

The practice of community is sharing life with fellow believers, growing together in faith and love.


“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." — Matthew 18:20

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 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.

The practice of service is giving of oneself to meet the needs of others, reflecting Christ's love and humility.


"Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant." — Matthew 20:26

1. Contemplate Jesus’ example as He washed His disciple’s feet.
Contemplate the example of people in your life who exemplify selfless service.

2. Begin every morning for the next two weeks by asking your spouse, your roommate, a coworker or friend, “What can I do for you today?” Then do it. Talk to God about what this is like for you. What did you see about yourself?

3. Divide a paper into three columns. Above one column write “For Me.” Above the second column write “For Others.” Above the third column write “For God.” Review the past week or month. Jot down in each column the things you have bought and done for yourself, others and God. What does this inventory reveal about your life? How would you like to see the answers in your columns change over the next months? Listen to your longings and God's promptings.

4. List the institutions in your life that serve you. The company you work for, your school, your church and write a brutally honest review. Out of 5 stars how’s the food, how’s the service? Once that’s out of your system, throw it away and write another review from the institution’s perspective. Out of 5 stars how might they might rate you. How’s the food, how’s the service? This will force us out of a “what can my country do for me” mentality into a "what can I do for my country” mentality.

5. When walking into any space where people are present, cultivate the habit of asking the question ‘Who’s here and how can I be helpful?’

The spiritual practice of witnessing is telling others the good news of Jesus.


“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." — Acts 1:8

From Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

1. You have a redemption story about how God has found and rescued you. Write an account of your redemption story. How might God use this story to set others free? Share the story of your journey of freedom in Christ with a friend.

2. There are wonderful evangelism tools and training programs that can assist you in learning how to share your faith. Check out saltshaker.org or alpha.org

3. Make a list of people you are praying will respond to God. Beside each name list one intentional way you can be the face of God to them in the next month.

4. Write an account of how God has been at work in your life in the past six months. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive and open to an opportunity to share your experience with a seeking friend.