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# What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate What is a spiritual practice?
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**Meditation**

In the Christian tradition, meditation is time devoted to mindful reflection. There are a number of ways to engage in meditation. Sometimes we may consider our personal responses to specific questions--like these listed in the [Ignatian Examen](/en/content/reflection-through-questions). Or we may simply try to quiet our minds and wait for God to speak--like in this [Centering Prayer](/en/content/centered-and-present-today). The simplest way to engage in meditation is to read a short piece of scripture (like 1 John 4:13) and consider its meaning. What might God be saying to you through this verse.

**Reading**

Some of our practices may overlap, as some reading can also be meditation. A way to deepen our engagement with scripture in a contemplative way is through a [practice called Lectio Divina](https://youtu.be/RZ_Vm-E31B0). Many people make reading [the Bible](/en/content/our-christian-roots-the-bible) part of their daily routine--diving into a "morning quiet time" or a making it a bed time ritual. In these cases, it is helpful to utilize [a Bible reading plan](/en/content/refresh-your-life-12-day-bible-reading-plan). Sources outside the Bible challenge us to grow in faith, too. This [book list for spiritual questions](/en/content/a-book-list-for-spiritual-questions) digs into some tough questions of faith.

**Service**

You know the rush you feel when doing something genuinely nice? There's something spiritual about that. Doing good things for others deepens our connection to the people around us and, therefore, to the Divine, as well. The opportunity to serve someone is all around you. But if you'd like to get specific, we have suggestions for serving those in [marginalized communities](/en/content/how-to-help-immigrant-and-refugee-families) and who are [at risk for hunger](/en/content/7-ways-to-address-hunger-locally).

### What practices do we recommend?

*   [![](https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2020/06/25/20/48/meditate-with-headphones.jpg?h=87&iar=0&mh=87&mw=130&w=117&hash=35E7E488702B8E86F1C33D04E2515EB6)](c0026ef9-6af8-43f4-b098-d37ea5289499)
    
    #### [New to the UMC?](https://www.umc.org/en/new-to-the-umc)
    
    [Breath and renewal: Compass Podcast episode 40](https://www.umc.org/en/content/breath-and-renewal-compass-podcast-episode-40)  
    
*   [![](https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2020/03/11/18/16/relevance-x-2013-42.jpg?h=87&iar=0&mh=87&mw=130&w=130&hash=F327A58208D69878359938B8BDE1EDDE)](06da3fb3-1751-4de8-8182-0575318879ee)
    
    #### [New to the UMC?](https://www.umc.org/en/new-to-the-umc)
    
    [Communion: a counter-cultural act](https://www.umc.org/en/content/communion-a-counter-cultural-act)  
    

*   [![](https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2019/08/27/22/54/moments_on_the_go_cover.jpg?h=87&iar=0&mh=87&mw=130&w=105&hash=D6F76056D63FECC207C6CF17E75354F4)](d7c8d354-d71b-4ba6-8dca-4ebe954c74d6)
    
    #### [Spiritual Practices](https://www.umc.org/en/rethink-church/topics/spiritual-practices)
    
    [Spiritual Moments on the Go](https://www.umc.org/en/content/spiritual-moments-on-the-go)  
    
*   [![](https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2019/07/09/17/28/thumb-breath_prayer.jpg?h=87&iar=0&mh=87&mw=130&w=130&hash=A9D698503C5B6456D845C0B79087810F)](48ec9a49-796b-4512-8e71-6bd162b39d0e)
    
    #### [Spiritual Practices](https://www.umc.org/en/rethink-church/topics/spiritual-practices)
    
    [Breath Prayer](https://www.umc.org/en/content/breath-prayer)  
    

*   [![](https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2020/04/01/14/38/earbuds-prayer-bible-podcast.jpeg?h=87&iar=0&mh=87&mw=130&w=130&hash=6EFF1C65B61829D967BCB589D95B4BD2)](d3725ccd-f5c0-4432-9d2a-60761a112f89)
    
    #### [New to the UMC?](https://www.umc.org/en/new-to-the-umc)
    
    [Ancient practices and future faith](https://www.umc.org/en/content/ancient-practices-and-future-faith-compass-podcast-episode-35)  
    
*   [![](https://www.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2019/08/27/14/25/fasting_unplugging.png?h=87&iar=0&mh=87&mw=130&w=105&hash=D8ACAD4121A0321A67649FF23DEA478C)](2cb91797-03ba-4730-881a-5464684e8fe8)
    
    #### [New to the UMC?](https://www.umc.org/en/new-to-the-umc)
    
    [Unplugging, Fasting and Ancient Practices](https://www.umc.org/en/content/unplugging-fasting-and-ancient-practices)