Welcome to our new column on prayer. If you’re looking for some ways to enliven your prayer life, or you’re just curious about the myriad ways to pray, this column is for you. Each month I’ll suggest a practice to either jump–start or deepen your prayer life. I’ll also suggest some resources for more information on the practice. Some of these ways to pray will speak to you; others won’t. I invite you to use what’s helpful to you and not worry about the rest.

One way to enrich your prayer life is to arrange a prayer corner or room, a special place for your times of prayer. Have you ever walked into a church especially an old one, and had the sense that the space was filled with people’s prayers. As you pray in it over time, you’ll develop something like what athletes call muscle memory. Athletes train by repeating a move over and over, so that their bodies will remember it even in stressful, high–pressure situations.

Something similar happens with prayer. If we have a place where we are accustomed to praying, a sort of spiritual muscle memory kicks in, and we fall into prayer more easily there.

Setting up a prayer corner is simple. Find a place that feels calm and quiet to you. If you can, choose a spot away from phones and interruptions. Put a comfortable chair or pillow and a small table or shelf in your space. Make the space peaceful and beautiful; put a pretty cloth over the table, for example, or place a bowl of ﬂowers there. Then add a few items of spiritual signiﬁcance. That might include books (your Bible, prayer books, devotional reading), and perhaps some objects (a cross, an icon, prayer beads, works of art).

Many people add photos or mementos of people they want to remember in prayer or objects that remind them of the sacred season. For example, a small picture of the infant Jesus with his mother Mary would be perfect for Advent and Christmas. Objects from nature can remind us of God’s good creation. A candle, a plant, a tabletop water fountain, and even a small CD player and some favorite CDs can be good additions to your prayer space.

And that’s it. You’ve got a prayer corner. Use this space for prayer often — daily, if possible. Go to it, sit in your comfortable chair, and prayerfully read Scripture or engage in whatever type of prayer is comfortable for you. You may not notice it at first, but over time your spirit will know what this place is for and will settle into prayer quickly and easily there.

Resources:
Here are two wonderful prayer books to consider keeping in your prayer corner.

• Soul Weavings: A Gathering of Women’s Prayers, edited by Lyn Klug (Augsburg Books)

• 2000 Years of Prayer, compiled by Michael Counsell (Morehouse Publishing)

Debra K. Farrington is the author of eight books on Christian spirituality. She is a popular retreat leader and speaker. Her Web site is www.debrafarrington.com

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