Making Space for God in Everyday Life: Spiritual Practices to Explore
There are many ways to make space for God in our everyday lives. A spiritual practice can be as simple as setting aside regular time to pray, listen to Scripture, walk, create, reflect, or simply be still.
During St. Matthew’s 2026 Women’s Retreat, guest speaker Rev. Kara Laughlin encouraged us to develop a consistent spiritual practice that helps us slow down, listen for God, and find grounding amid the busyness of everyday life.
She reminded us that spiritual practice doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Prayer and Scripture can become part of something you already enjoy, whether that’s walking, gardening, cooking, painting, coloring, or simply sitting quietly.
The goal isn't to find the “right” spiritual practice. It's to find a rhythm that helps you regularly make space for God.
Quiet and Reflective Practices
If quiet and reflection help you connect with God, one of these may be a good place to begin:
Centering Prayer: A receptive method of Christian silent prayer that invites us to quiet our thoughts, rest in God’s presence, and deepen our relationship with God.
Lectio Divina: Meaning “Divine Reading,” Lectio Divina is a slow, prayerful way of reading Scripture that combines reading, reflection, prayer, and silence.
Daily Examen: A prayerful review of your day that helps you notice moments of gratitude, challenge, joy, and God’s presence in everyday life.
Creative Practices
If creativity helps you slow down, reflect, and pray, try bringing art or visual observation into your time with God.
Praying in Color: A creative form of prayer that uses simple shapes, words, doodles, and color to help us slow down, focus, and spend time with God.
Visio Divina: Meaning “Divine Seeing,” Visio Divina is a contemplative practice of prayerfully looking at an image and noticing what draws your attention or invites reflection.
Visio Divina Resources:
Movement & Connection
If sitting still isn't how you focus best, prayer doesn't have to mean staying in one place.
Prayer Walking: A practice that combines movement and prayer, inviting you to notice your surroundings and pray as you walk.
Prayer Walking Resources:
Walking a Labyrinth: A contemplative practice of slowly following a single winding path as a way to quiet your mind, reflect, listen, and pray.
Spiritual Direction: A relationship with a trained spiritual companion who helps you reflect on your spiritual life and notice God’s presence and movement in it.
Where Should I Start?
You don't need to try everything on this list. Choose one practice that sounds interesting or feels natural to you and give it some time. You might set aside a few minutes each day or choose one consistent time each week.
And if the first practice you try isn't a good fit, try another. The way you make space for God may look different from someone else's, and it may change during different seasons of your life.
