Simple, life-giving practices to help us walk more closely with God, one step at a time
As part of our Mission Action Plan (Signs of the Kingdom), Holy Habits invites us to discover ways of drawing near to God in everyday life. I write this on the Feast of St Gregory the Great (3rd September), so we take inspiration from a man who longed for a life of prayer and stillness, but who also gave himself wholeheartedly to serving others.
Gregory reminds us that prayer and action belong together. He often wrote of Christ as the model: going up the mountain to pray, then coming down to heal and teach. For Gregory, the rhythm of the Christian life was simple: pause with God, then carry that love into the world.
How to Practice Gregory’s Pause
- Morning Prayer – When you wake, take a moment of quiet and pray:
“Lord, show me one way to love you and serve my neighbour today.” - Evening Reflection – Before bed, look back over the day and ask:
“Where did I meet Christ today — in prayer, in people, in service?”
That’s it. A simple pause at the beginning and end of the day.
Why Try It?
Gregory’s pause helps us hold together two parts of the Christian life that are sometimes pulled apart, prayer and service. It reminds us that one fuels the other: stillness with God sends us out in love, and loving service leads us back into prayer.
This month, try Gregory’s Pause, and see how God is already at work in your day.