Praying on paper

I started doing something regularly late last year that has dramatically improved the quality of my time in prayer: 

I pray on paper.

This will sound a lot like Julia Cameron's "morning pages" (as described in her book, The Artist's Way) -- and that's actually how it started. 

Morning pages help get the creative muscles moving by having you write 3 full pages of whatever random thoughts pop into your mind. This helps clear out the cobwebs and process anything that needs attention. The intent is to actually not write for the purpose of saving, sharing, or even re-reading it. Cameron even recommends you just crumple up the pages and throw them away. 

This is what I started out doing (off and on for years). I'd write freely for a couple of pages, and then by the third page the writing would inevitably turn into a written prayer -- a conversation between me and God. 

Now I just skip the first part and start with prayer. Not only do I feel more creative afterward, like I did with the morning pages format, but I feel closer to my Father in Heaven and to my Savior. It's powerful!

I share what I'm concerned about, what I'm excited about, what I want more clarity on, what my challenges are, and much more. Sometimes when I don't have anything on my mind, I ask what He'd like me to learn in that moment. This has turned into a sacred practice that I look forward to each morning, and I've had some very clear direction come to my mind + heart (the powerful alignment that helps me differentiate inspiration from my own ideas). 

If you feel like your prayers could use a refresh, this might be something to try. I treasure this time now.