Each prayer of the 7-day prayer retreats consists of
the following six parts:

  • OUTWARD PREPARATION: This step helps move the body and mind into
    prayer through an exercise representing the intentional moving out of
    ordinary-time into prayer-time.  It may mean picking up and holding an
    object that symbolizes the prayer for that day. Or it could be the lighting of
    a candle as a concrete act of entering into prayer-time. This step may or
    may not involve moving to a different physical space. Each person decides
    for themselves where and when they will pray.

  • INWARD PREPARATION: This step helps the heart and soul prepare for
    prayer through an exercise to bring calmness and peace to the inner self. It
    is usually some form of breath prayer or repetition. Inner stillness allows us
    to be more receptive to God's Spirit within us and around us.

  • PRAYER FOCUS: Each day's prayer has a focus. In this step the focus is
    presented through a scripture passage or inspirational quote followed by a
    brief commentary.

  • CONTEMPLATION: A few questions are provided to challenge the
    participant to prayerfully engage the day's focus. The questions are
    intended to help us listen for God.

  • REFLECTION: In this step the participant is invited to sit with whatever has
    come up within them during their prayer. This is the place where we reflect
    on what we have experienced. We reflect on how God has touched us. For
    those who journal this is a good time to record a few words.

  • BENEDICTION: Just as the prayer time is intentionally entered, it is good to
    be intentional about closing the time. In this step the participant is invited
    to offer a prayer gratitude for this prayer experience and to ask for God's
    blessing as they move back into 'ordinary' time.

All Gentle Word prayer emails provide each of the six steps with the suggestions
for that step in the day's prayer.

Click here to see a sample of a guided prayer email.