The practice library
Every contemplative practice you can bring onto a page, where it comes from, and how it moves.
The Morning Offering
Ignatian · Ignatius of Loyola, 16th century — the Suscipe
For the morning you sit down carrying everything at once. Put it all down first, then find what today is actually for.
Moves throughEverything · What matters · Not yours · Offering
New Every Morning
Hebrew · The Hebrew morning blessings — Talmudic, with Lamentations 3
The oldest morning practice there is: thanks before anything else — before the news, before the list, before you have decided how the day is going.
Moves throughAwake · The ordinary · Faithfulness
Luther’s Garland
Lutheran · Martin Luther, 1535 — a letter to his barber
A way to pray a single verse, a commandment, or one line of the Lord’s Prayer — four strands wound around it, in order.
Moves throughThe text · Instruction · Thanksgiving · Confession · Prayer
The Round
Benedictine · The Benedictine Rule of Life, 6th century — adapted
A walk through the domains of your own life — the ones already on your Life Map — stopping at each one long enough to say what is true there this week.
Moves through
The Daily Examen
Ignatian · Ignatius of Loyola, 16th century
A review of the day in God’s presence — not to audit yourself, but to notice where you were carried and where you resisted.
Moves throughGratitude · Awareness · Examination · Prayer
Lectio Divina
Benedictine · Benedict of Nursia, 6th century
Not reading Scripture to extract truth, but receiving it — letting a word or phrase find you, and sitting with what it stirs.
Moves throughLectio — Read · Meditatio — Meditate · Oratio — Pray · Contemplatio — Rest
Wesley’s Questions
Wesleyan · John Wesley, 18th century
The questions Wesley’s band meetings held each other to. Hard. Honest. Meant to be asked among people who want to grow in holiness.
Moves throughHonesty · Purity · Confession
SOAP
Evangelical · Wayne Cordeiro, contemporary
A structured encounter with Scripture that moves from observation to personal application — simple enough to sustain daily.
Moves throughScripture · Observation · Application · Prayer
Discovery Bible Study
Missional · Disciple-making movements, 20th century
Read one passage, say what it says, and ask what it shows you about God and about us — then decide one thing you will do.
Moves throughRead · What it says · About God · About us · I will · Who to tell
Open Reading
Any · No framework — a passage, and a page
Open the Bible and see what happens. No questions in order — read, then write whatever comes, bringing in the words that catch you.
Moves throughRead · Reflect
Psalmic Lament
Hebrew · Ancient — the Hebrew Psalter
The psalms of lament are not a failure of faith. They are faith’s most honest posture. You are invited to complain to God, boldly.
Moves throughAddress · Complaint · Petition · Trust
Prayer of Recollection
Carmelite · Teresa of Ávila, 16th century
Teresa taught that God is already present within you — not waiting outside. This practice turns you inward to find Him there.
Moves throughStillness · Descent · Presence
The Examen of Consolation
Ignatian · Ignatius of Loyola, 16th century
A shorter, lighter form of the Examen focused entirely on noticing where love moved — in you and around you — today.
Moves throughNotice · Receive · Return
Ignatian Discernment
Ignatian · Ignatius of Loyola, 16th century
For a decision you are holding. Ignatius taught that the Spirit’s movement can be felt — not just reasoned toward. You’re learning to read your own interior.
Moves throughName the question · Consolation · Desolation · Hold
Threshold
Secular · Adapted from rite-of-passage practice, contemporary
For a transition you’re in the middle of — a job, a move, a relationship, a season ending. Growth at a threshold often stays invisible until you name it.
Moves throughLeaving · Carrying · Letting go · Presence