Many of us are very skilled when it comes to incorporating the latest technology into our youth ministry programs, but how often do we incorporate God’s creation? Perhaps we need to turn to creation for some prayer time inspiration.

Atmosphere for prayer can really set the mood. When weather permits, hold your prayer time outside. A prayer service in your meeting room is very different than the same prayer service held in a forest or a garden. For those of us lucky enough to live near the ocean, seeing the crashing waves can remind our teens of the mighty power of God. Being on the top of a mountain and hearing the winds rush past assures us that God is present and hears our prayer. Incorporating the environment into our prayer also reminds us that it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the Earth.

If it is not possible to be outside for prayer, bring nature into what you are doing. Nature provides us with countless reminders of God’s love for us. Flowers can remind our young women of their God given beauty. Autumn leaves can be a beautiful metaphor for life, death, and resurrection. A simple stone can serve as a reminder of a prayer commitment. Seashells have long been a symbol for baptism, so have your group use shells as part of a prayer service reaffirming their baptismal promises. The objects we encounter outside in everyday circumstances take on new meaning when they have been incorporated into our prayers.

Give young people the chance to use all their senses during prayer. The retreat house that our youth use each summer is surrounded by a blueberry farm. Our morning prayer takes on a different tone as the smell of fresh blueberries wafts across the yard. Feeling the water cleanse our dirty hands reminds us of our sins being washed away through the sacrament of reconciliation, and the taste of fresh fruit lets the teens experience the sweetness of God’s creation. The sight, sound, and smell of a crackling bonfire helps bring to life the power of the Holy Spirit. Seeing a sunrise can give a sense of hope to a young person who feels consumed by a dark time in his or her life.

Our young people often crave quiet time with God. How different would their prayer time be if they were able to feel the sun’s warmth on their face, or experience the cold as they peered into the night sky? Our Creator God has already supplied us with all the prayer materials we could ever ask for, but it is up to us to recognize and use these gifts of creation.