We Tried 3 Spiritual Practices | You’ve Heard It Said

Trying Lesser-Known Spiritual Practices: A Two-Week Challenge

Overview

Abigail, Jason, Laura, and guest Eric take on a “spiritual practices challenge,” each testing a lesser-known discipline for two weeks—slowing, caring for the earth, and fasting. They record their preparations, daily struggles, and surprises, then regroup to share what they learned about God, themselves, and everyday life. The conversation highlights how even small, simple experiments can create space for awareness, conviction, and deeper connection with God.

Themes

What is the Spiritual Practices Challenge?

• Laura assigns each participant a practice they are not already doing and gives them two weeks to try it, record experiences, and report back.

• Assignments:
  • Jason – caring for the earth
  • Eric – fasting
  • Abigail – slowing

Preparing and Choosing a Method

• Jason decides to keep a “single-use plastics journal,” logging every plastic item he throws away.
• Abigail targets driving and eating habits, vowing to drive the speed limit, use cruise control, skip highway shortcuts, and chew more slowly.
• Eric plans three 12-hour water-only fasts and chooses to release expectations: “I’m just going to let that go and see what God does.”

Daily Experience: Ease, Friction, Surprise

• Jason discovers Halloween candy explodes his plastics count; recording each wrapper makes him think twice about impulse snacks or disposable cups.
• Abigail is shocked by how naturally she rushes—changing lanes to pass, scrolling her phone at meals, and even “re-loading” her mouth before finishing a bite.
• Eric feels immediate hunger and low energy; skipping breakfast, the gym, and lunch forces schedule shifts and draws curious questions from coworkers.

Encountering God in the Practice

“I just want to connect with You.” – Eric’s repeated prayer when hunger strikes

• Abigail senses God’s patience while letting other drivers rush: slowing reveals His kindness toward her own hurried heart.
• Jason ponders God’s trust in humans to steward creation; the weight of 100–150 plastic items in two weeks makes Scripture’s creation mandate feel personal.
• Eric notices quiet presence: “God fills the space we give Him.” Moments he would normally fill with YouTube become simple stillness with God.

Wider Impact on Everyday Life

• Jason’s plastics awareness nudges him to pack lunches and choose boxed Milk Duds over plastic-wrapped candy; asking for a glass cup at a café feels like progress.

• Story: Laura watches Jason rummage through the office candy box and triumphantly raise the only box-packaged treat.

• Abigail reframes slowing as a gift: she now considers sitting in her driveway for five minutes before entering the house to transition intentionally.
• Eric enjoys unexpected open time where meals used to be; some of it goes to unproductive scrolling, but some to longer prayer and rest.

Advice for Anyone Trying a New Practice

• Pick one small, daily action God can speak through; expect real life to interrupt your plan.
• Don’t judge the practice after one attempt; try different lenses or lengths.
• Care less about “doing it right” and more about noticing how it draws you to God.
• Process the experience with friends—conversation often reveals value you missed alone.

Key Truths

• Small, ordinary acts—like logging trash, choosing the slow lane, or skipping a meal—can become sacred space for God.
• Awareness often precedes change; writing something down or timing a habit uncovers hidden patterns.
• God welcomes the space we make for Him, even when results feel subtle or slow.
• Slowing or fasting may feel inconvenient, yet they train the soul to resist hurry and appetite.
• Community reflection deepens growth; sharing wins and failures reframes the practice as grace, not performance.

Response

• Ask God which single practice He wants you to try this week.
• Set a simple, measurable action (journal, timer, schedule) and commit for a short, defined period.
• Expect interruptions; when they come, redirect attention to God rather than quitting.
• Record observations daily—both struggles and sparks of insight.
• Debrief with a friend or life group to celebrate learning and decide next steps.

Closing

The group ends by urging listeners to pick just one discipline and “give it a try.” Jason reminds us that everyday choices—whether a plastic cup, a traffic lane, or a skipped meal—can open surprising windows to God’s heart.

“Talk with God about it, talk with friends about it, and set aside some time this week to try a new spiritual practice.”

Resources

• The Rule of Saint Benedict (briefly referenced in the Church History Minute)
• YouVersion Conversation Guide for this podcast season