Verdant Pastures. Prayer Prompt: Oct 2024

Hello! Happy October. I love this month for many reasons: fall, warm chai lattes, cozy sweaters, and incredible saint feast days. This year is extra special as I launch a little project that I am excited about!

Introducing Prayer Prompts, a contemplative and creative way to make room in your heart for prayer and encounter with Christ. St. Teresa of Avila writes, “Prayer is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

But.. it can be hard to pray simply because we do not know how or what is “allowed.” Can I think of a song that I like? Can I imagine myself in a house? What am I supposed to say? What do I do? Sometimes it really can feel like an awkward first date or perhaps more like an awkward interview.

What my hope is with these Prayer Prompts is that they serve as little guide posts in crafting the space in your heart to encounter Christ, to use the incredible gift of our imagination, and to let the Holy Spirit guide you as you enter the into the sacredness of your own heart. We are so often living everywhere but in communion with Him inside our souls.

Each month I’ll be sharing a theme as well as a little collage with images, quotes, and even music that can help lead you into this space. I will also include a step by step guided meditation. I know these have been mega helpful for me in my journey so I hope they are helpful for you!

He has great desire to encounter you. I’ll say that again: Christ, the creator of the Universe, at this moment has a heart filled with desire to love you and to speak to you as a friend. I could have gotten stoned for that centuries ago and in some more radical religions today, I could get stoned for it now.

He loves you and it’s a great gift to play a tiny part in letting Him show you that love.

I hope that you use these, print them out, or perhaps even make your own from what you see here!

Be not afraid.

xx Mariana