tamhonkhoe.comCourses · Christianity · Course KT2 · Not started
Prayer and presence
Brother Lawrence, The Imitation of Christ and silent prayer.
Planned outline. These lessons are not published yet. Lesson titles and passages may change during writing and review.
| For | Adults learning on their own; each lesson has a short kids’ corner |
|---|---|
| Length | 8 weeks · 20–30 min/day |
| Level | 2 |
| Status | Not started |
| Publishing | Needs a reviewer from within the tradition |
| Expected | 2028 |
Plan: 8 weeks
| Week | Lesson | Passages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presence in ordinary work | Brother Lawrence |
| 2 | The inner life | The Imitation of Christ II.1 |
| 3 | Go into your room | Matthew 6:6 |
| 4 | A quieted soul | Psalm 131 |
| 5 | A short prayer | Luke 18:13 |
| 6 | A daily rhythm of prayer | Brother Lawrence |
| 7 | Dryness and perseverance | The Imitation of Christ |
| 8 | Review | – |
What science finds
- Meta-analysis of randomised trials: religious/spiritual interventions reduce anxiety; programmes vary widely and study quality is limited. (Gonçalves et al. 2015, Psychological Medicine 45(14) · source)
Stop practising if
Stop or shorten practice and talk to a professional if you notice: rising anxiety or panic; low mood that lingers; feeling that you or the world is ‘not real’; flooding memories of trauma; several nights of poor sleep; hearing or seeing things others do not; thoughts of harming yourself. People with a history of psychosis, bipolar disorder or severe PTSD should ask a doctor before practising more than 20 minutes a day.