Significant Stories engages the heart, mind, and body. Each session includes a spiritual practice, a time of reflection, and a simple concluding breath prayer. We encourage you to begin each day in stillness; we will also provide prompts to breathe and pause throughout the reading.
Spiritual practices, or spiritual disciplines, have been part of the lives of believers since the beginning of the early church. At the heart of these practices is a desire to connect with God and enjoy his presence.
While we primarily use Lectio Divina and Visio Divina, other practices are woven throughout. Here is a brief look at each:
Lectio Divina
Engage with Scripture as an active participant, making room for the Holy Spirit to work in both heart and mind. Rather than silent reading, Lectio Divina encourages reading aloud to experience the Word through the senses, moving beyond the intellect.
View stories with this practice →Visio Divina
Enter into a biblical image or scene to ponder God’s work. While early Christians often learned through art, today we continue this tradition by looking intently at paintings, stained glass, and other artistic depictions of Scripture.
View stories with this practice →Celebration
Delight in the Lord and his ongoing work through his people. While the world celebrates milestones, spiritual celebration is a daily posture of joy and continual thanksgiving.
View stories with this practice →Gratitude
Adopt a posture of thankfulness for who God is and what he does. Beyond thanking him for blessings, gratitude is about enjoying God’s presence and demonstrating our love for him.
View stories with this practice →Lament
Bring your complaints, grief, and suffering to God. By crying out for what is wrong in the world, we invite God to meet us in our pain and offer his presence in the midst of protest.
View stories with this practice →Hospitality
Offer a welcome to God and others. This practice involves creating space in our hearts for the Spirit and room in our lives for people—whether through a shared meal, an invitation home, or a heartfelt greeting.
View stories with this practice →Worship
Respond to God for who he is. Whether through song or prayers of praise, worship centers on placing our adoration and glory in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
View stories with this practice →Presence
Cultivate an awareness of the Lord throughout the day. Practicing his presence helps us notice God in unexpected places and unanticipated circumstances, trusting that he is always with us.
View stories with this practice →Sensory Experience
Engage Scripture through the physical senses God has given us. While Lectio and Visio focus on hearing and sight, other experiences may incorporate touch, smell, or taste to deepen your connection to the story.
View stories with this practice →Study
Engage the mind to transform the heart. By focusing on the context, history, and meaning of Scripture, we move beyond accumulating information to allow God to renew our minds.
View stories with this practice →