What is a Prayer Garden and Why You Need One
What’s Inside: What is a prayer garden and why would you need one? Find refreshment for your soul! create your very own personal prayer garden.
Just as a flower needs sunlight, water, and rich soil to bloom into full beauty, so too our souls need times of quiet rest in God’s presence to flourish and unfold in His love.
Sisters, prayer is important in the life of a Christian women.
Even Jesus Himself recognized the need to get away in prayer.
Remember the Garden of Gethsemane? That’s where Jesus went to pour out His heart to the Father in those agonizing final hours before going to the cross. It was there, surrounded by ancient olive trees, that Jesus found strength to say “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Are you looking for a place to be alone and get away and pray?
Maybe a prayer garden is what you need. If so, you might consider making a prayer garden.
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here.)
What is a Prayer Garden?
Maybe you are asking, “Lil, What is a prayer garden exactly??
A prayer garden, in it’s most simplest of forms, is a bench or chair with some foliage, plants and flowers to beautify the area. It doesn’t have to be elaborate- and it can be as simple as you want.
A prayer garden is a dedicated outdoor space, whether tiny or grand, that you’ve set apart as a place to meet with God. It could be an alcove in your backyard, a cozy corner of your patio, or even just a pretty potted plant on your balcony next to a chair!
The key is that this becomes your go-to spot to slip away and bask in God’s presence through prayer and Bible reading, You might find your prayer garden a wonderful place to also do your daily journaling.
A prayer garden is a place to blossom and grow in your faith.
What are the Benefit of a Prayer Garden?
Maybe you’re of the mind that a prayer garden would do you no good. Please allow me to change your mind by sharing some of what I believe are the benefits of a prayer garden.
Spiritual Refreshment
Imagine a tranquil oasis away from the stresses of daily life where you can experience spiritual nourishment and refreshment. A prayer garden allows you to intentionally shift your focus away from the worries and cares of the day to bring you to a place where you can meditate on God’s truth and promises.
Renewed Focus
When you enter your peronal prayer garden, you can leave the chaos and distractions behind to occupy your mind on the Lord. This environment helps quiet your soul before God.
Stress Relief
Imagine immersing you in the sights, sounds and smells of nature as your place of prayer. What a difference that is- compared to a kitchen table or a spot on the sofa. There’s something about getting outside in the open air and being reminded of God’s creative power. Your prayers will be serenaded by the birds tweeting, the bees buzzing and the lovely hum of nature.
Your prayers will be serenaded by the birds tweeting, the bees buzzing and the lovely hum of nature.
Creates a Disciplined Prayer Life
Having a specific location for the purpose of prayer, helps give prayer importance rather than it being an afterthought.
Creative Inspiration
The garden can inspire creativity through unique journaling, artistic expression, or composing poetry/music. The setting sparks inspiration.
Physical Benefits
Gardening itself provides light exercise, sunshine, and relaxation through working with soil. Breathing in the garden’s fragrances can be therapeutic.
Family Discipleship
A prayer garden creates a special place to model spiritual disciplines for family or to gather for devotions.
Whether calming anxious thoughts, experiencing God’s presence, or simply enjoying restorative quiet with the Lord, a prayer garden can be a blessing.
What Does a Prayer Garden Look Like?
You know, one of the beauties of a prayer garden is that it can look however you want it to look! There’s no one-size-fits-all design. The key is creating a space that is meaningful to you.
For some, their ideal prayer garden has a formal, manicured look with trimmed hedges, sculptural topiary, and symmetrical flower beds. Others prefer a more naturalistic, free-flowing style with winding pathways, a water fountain, and pockets of wildflowers growing as they may.
Regardless of the aesthetic, most prayer gardens include foliage and or flowers and a place for sitting.
The most meaningful are the ones that showcase your unique creativity so dream big or start simple. There’s no wrong way to create a prayer garden as long as it’s a space where you want to meet with your Heavenly Father at.
What Do you Put in a Prayer Garden?
There are many things you can put into your prayer garden. Here are some ideas for you:
Bench or Seating Areas
I would recommend seating that fits your space and feels comfortable enough to spend extended quiet times sitting in prayer, Bible study, or just communion with the Lord. Benches with curved wooden seats and arm rests provide back support for upright sitting. Rocking chairs are wonderful to sit in and pray from.
If you are hosting others in your prayer garden, don’t forget to have ample seating.
Having a bench or chair in your prayer garden invites you to truly settle in and linger rather than just passing through.
Stepping Stones
Stepping stones are an easy way to construct a path through a garden and look beautiful at the same time. Decorative stones add a splash of color.
Grass– Imagine sitting on a lush piece of grass and sinking your toes down deep. Wonderful!
Trellis
A trellis is a beautiful way to provide shade in your prayer garden with vines and climbing flowers. Trellises can be an arch for the middle of a garden or flat for up against the wall.
Bistro Set
One of the main benefits of having a table in your prayer garden is the need to lay out your Bible, notebook, and devotional materials so they’re easily accessible without juggling. A bistro set gives you 2 chairs and a table and is pretty! I would recommend a set if you plan on writing since writing on your lap can become clumsy and uncomfortable.
Fountains
A fountain surely isn’t required, but imagine your prayer time being serenaded by the bubbling sound of water. It would also beckon birds to come and bathe.
Pathways or Trails
There are many postures of prayer and walking on a pathway, or even a trail, might be something you like.
Flower Beds, Planters, or Hanging Pots
Flowers can be as minimum or as maximum as you like. If you are making your prayer garden in a small place such as a balcony, perhaps hanging pots of flowers or plants are what would work for you.
If you’re using a table in your prayer garden, you might want to add a candle.
Bird feeder or Hummingbird feeder
As an avid bird watcher, a bird feeder and hummingbird feeder are a must!
Simple Alternative Activities for your Garden
Your prayer garden can be used for other things that will build you up spiritually. Here are some ideas.
- Meditate on Scripture – Bring your Bible and reflect on, and digest God’s Word in a beautiful garden setting.
- Write faith poetry – Get inspired with writing poetry that reflects your faith walk.
- Read a devotional book– It’s the perfect place to read and reflect.
- Read a Christian classic such as Mere Christianity or the Screwtape Letters.
- Bible Journaling-Use the beauty around you as inspiration as you paint and Bible journal.
- Prayer journaling- Combine your prayers and art and journal your prayers
- Listen to worship music- Let the sounds of nature be the background to your favorite worship music.
- Meet with a mentor or fellow believer – The garden can be a beautiful background to hosting lunch with friends.
- Host a ladies tea/fellowship sharing your prayer garden with others.
Ideas for Prayer Gardens
If you need more visual inspiration for your prayer garden, I found this Pinterest board dedicated specifically to prayer gardens.
What is a prayer garden, Sister? It is a beautiful place of prayer garden of prayer limited only by your creativity. I hope this article has inspired you to start your own prayer garden.
This is part one in a series on prayer gardens. Part two is coming soon.
