Ways to pray during Lent

Years ago Beliefnet posted a piece by Therese J. Borchard called 12 Ways to Pray During Lent. Some of the ways on her list might resonate more with Roman Catholics but some I think resonate with many of us who pray. Here are a few ways that made her list:

• Say Thank You: Gratitude, they say, is the highest form of prayer. ... During Lent, I try to pay special attention to all the small, wonderful things around me: that my kids aren't using diapers anymore, that they don't have disabilities, that my husband works around the corner and can come home for lunch.
• Sing the Verses: In the church bulletin recently, I read that "singing is praying twice." So if I sing a refrain three times, that's like saying six prayers, right?
• Yell like Heck: Indeed the prophets and saints were not always in the habit of simply saying, 'Thy will be done.' They often fought, challenged, squirmed and begged as a way of saying 'Thy will be changed!'"
• Repeat one Word: During several months when I felt suicidal, I repeated four words: "Jesus, be with me." And that mantra was enough, at times, to beat back my fear and sadness.
• Laugh: I believe that God wants us to laugh because laughter heals in ways traditional and alternative medicine can't.
• Eat and Drink: When we do this during Lent, we celebrate Jesus and each other just like he did at the Last Supper. I especially like this form of prayer since eating and drinking come so naturally to me.
• Give Something Up: Why must we give up something we enjoy to be enlightened? I don't know. But I do think the lines of communication between God and me are better on the days I've abstained from a desired object.

Therese goes go into more detail. Feel free to check out her entire list here.

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