Time still passes, but as we pay closer attention, it feels slower and calmer, and we are aware of its passage instead of being surprised by it. Living this way opens us up to God’s presence in our lives and cultivates gratitude for all our blessings.

—from Franciscan Spirit’s “5 Minutes to Mindfulness“
by Colleen Arnold, MD

So often, we claim people and possessions as our own—my car, my house, my daughter. But none of these really belong to me. Sometimes, it’s helpful to think of these gifts of God as being on loan from him.

Pray

Dear God,
Everything I “have” is yours.
You have loaned it all to me for now, but probably not forever.
Help me love what I have and let it go when you ask me to.
Loosen my grip on the things I think I can’t live without—
the only thing I can’t live without is you.

Act

Imagine something you love and practice saying the words, “I will give this back to you, Lord, when you ask me.” It’s not easy!

Recently, as I drove home from work, I hit a patch of dense mist rising from the river. Even my fog lights were useless. I knew the road was still there—I’d traveled it hundreds of times—but I was scared. Sometimes, following God is like that.

Pray

Dear God,
Sometimes the path you lead me along is safe and obvious.
Other times, I can’t see what you’re doing,
and even though you’ve always carried me before, I get scared.
I want to know what’s ahead, but the mist of uncertainty clouds my vision,
and I have no idea where you are leading.
Please help me trust that even if I can’t see where we are going, you can,
and you never leave my side.

Act

Think of a time when you had no idea what your future held, and remember how you managed to get through it. God was with you then, just like he is now and always.

We’ve all had those days where nothing goes right. We don’t hear the alarm; we can’t find the keys; we forget to take the grocery list with us to the store. As the day goes on, we sink deeper and deeper into our bad moods. But what if instead of seeing these experiences as troubles, we see them as opportunities to listen to God?

Pray

Dear God,
Are you trying to tell me something in the frustrations of my day?
Is my missed alarm a sign I need more rest?
Are the forgotten list and missing car keys your way of pointing out
That I have too many distractions in my life?
Sometimes, it feels like the whole world is off-kilter,
but maybe that’s you trying to get my attention.

Act

The next time you have a frustrating or annoying experience, reframe it to see what God might be saying through it.

Part of our fallen human nature allows us to hurt others easily. Even if our intent is innocent, the impact can still cause pain.

Pray

Jesus,
You know how hurtful others can be.
Your hometown neighbors and friends turned on you
and sought to hurl you off a cliff; Pater denied even knowing you.
Followers you loved walked away because your teaching was “hard.”
And yet you forgave them all.
Help me to forgive, too, Jesus. 
Help me see myself in the flaws of those who hurt me,
knowing I, too, have hurt others.

Act

Think of someone who hurt you, even if he/she didn’t mean to. Now think of someone you’ve hurt—even if you didn’t mean to. Bring these two people to God in your prayer, asking for forgiveness on both sides.

Water is a part of who we are as humans, making up roughly 60 percent of our bodies. It’s also part of who we are as Christians, as by it, we are baptized into our new lives.

Pray

Dear God,
Thank you for the water that fills us, nourishes us, baptizes us, and makes us clean.
Let it always remind us of your love.
Bless those parts of the world where people have too little of it
and suffer from dehydration and drought.
Bless those parts of the world that have too much
and suffer from floods and storms.

Act

During your shower or bath today, picture the water as God’s drenching love pouring over you.