Faith Habits and How To Form Them: 21 seasonal practices to strengthen your spiritual life

by Emma Timms

Overview

The pace of the modern world with its constant demands and digital connection can make it tough to form a rich spirituality. Though many of us long for a nourishing connection with God, we often struggle to form habits that cultivate and sustain it.

In Faith Habits and How to Form Them, retreat guide and spiritual director Emma Timms shares 21 spiritual practices that will both feed your soul and fit with the life you are actually living. Drawing from the Bible, the saints and mystics of old, as well as contemporary psychology, this book will help you uncover God's already-active presence inside you and help you form rhythms and practices to connect more deeply.

Discover how to:

- Understand the importance of habits in forming a life-giving spirituality
- Apply spiritual practices that have been used throughout the ages
- Make a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and seasonal plan for your spiritual life
- Adjust your spiritual practices to the season of life you're in

Whether you're a stay-at-home parent, an overworked business owner, a local church leader, or a student, this book will help you nurture an essential and foundational relationship with God and give you the tools to outwork your faith in your unique context.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780281091324
Publisher:	Form
Publication date:	07/17/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	496 KB

About the Author

Emma Timms lives on the east coast of Scotland with her husband Jon and four children. She is a wellness coach, retreat guide and movement teacher who runs an online community of contemplative practice and movement called The Prayer Orchard. She and her husband also lead a 24/7 Prayer community called Discovery Church and are active members in a global monastic order called The order of the mustard seed. She is a curious soul who comes alive out in wild spaces and loves to swim in the ocean and hike out in nature.

Table of Contents

Contents

Part 1 - The history
Introduction
My faith story
What is a rule of life?
How mine found me
Habit formation
Understanding what helps and why we struggle
The science of habit formation
This is your choice
Becoming a lifelong learner
Finding your why
My why - six case studies
So what is your why?
Monks, saints and mystics
Looking back to look forward
Desert mothers and fathers
Monastic orders - ancient and modern
What can we learn from saints and holy people?
Julian of Norwich
St Francis of Assisi
St John of the Cross
St Teresa of Calcutta
St Ignatius of Loyola
St Catherine of Siena
What can we learn from monks?
Thomas Merton
Thomas Keating
One thing in common
Activity

Part 2 - The practices
How do I start?
What daily practices do you already do?
What are your current immovable commitments?
What is your current capacity and availability?
Does anything in your life need to be reduced to make space?
What times of day work well for you to integrate practices?
Are your weekends different from your weekdays?
Do you put personal space or others first?
Who can you share your plan with?
Daily practices
Lectio divina
Centering Prayer
Liturgical prayer
Journalling
The Examen
Breath prayer
Prayer postures
Intuitive movement
Walking
Swimming/running
Yoga/Pilates
Chanting
Mini rituals
Intercession
Which practices are you drawn to?
Weekly practices
Sabbath
Review your week
Prayer/talk with a cymbrogi or soul friend
Church/community gathering
Mid-week house group/hobby/prayer group
Time in nature
Review of weekly practices
Monthly practices
A time of silence, solitude and stillness
Spiritual direction
The Examen
Seasonal practices
A seasonal review
The four seasons
Inner and outer cleanses
The church calendar
Annual practices
Retreat
Pilgrimage
Mission/service of others
Practices for different stages of life
For parents of young children
For those with caring duties
For those with chronic illness
For those in a time of transition
For periods of intense study or heavy workload
For those who aren’t coping and don't know why
Practices for your current spiritual state
Flourishing
Dark night of the soul
The next step

Part 3 - The workbook
How to pull it all together
Case study: four people's rules of life
Creating your own
Final thoughts

Acknowledgements
Notes
Further reading

Editorial Reviews

"Emma writes about spiritual practices in a warm and approachable style. 'Faith Habits and How to Form Them' is a grounded guide for ordinary humans to approach what are sacred, solid ways to live in Love. Highly recommended for those who think spiritual practices are too difficult, too deep or too time-consuming for them."

Deborah Fielding - Opening: Poems and Spaces

"With heart-warming vulnerability and well-lived insight, Emma reveals the secret to living an abundant life. Follow her through these pages to receive sound instruction and wise guidance on how you, too, can live your best life."

Phileena Nikole

"I'm not the type of person who's naturally drawn towards contemplative Christianity, but Emma Timms' approach to this subject is down-to-earth, accessible and inspiring. I loved reading her own personal story and found her short introductions to the monks, saints and mystics who have gone before us and the practises themselves interesting and informative. It's been the encouragement I've needed to look afresh at my own spiritual life. Everyone should read it!"

Emma Fowle

"By her own admission, Emma is an 'unlikely contemplative', and that's what makes this book so refreshing. Her authentic voice is the heart of this book, as she candidly shares scenarios we can all relate to - from our phone habits to our selfish moments - yet she consistently points us towards a God of grace who longs to deeply connect with us. With gentle encouragement, Emma empowers us to cultivate faith habits that will help us hear and discern God in the ordinary yet precious moments of everyday life. A practical, beautiful, and grace-filled read."

Anna Robinson

"Christian "how to" books have a tendency to be rather didactic and prescriptive. I should know. I've read enough of them. However, having just finished Faith Habits and How To Form Them, I am in the happy position of now owing a book to which I will return again and again. Compassionate, authentic, funny and reassuring, Emma Timms has given us a wonderful resource full of wisdom. Highly recommended."

Ruth Leigh

"Spiritual practices are not just for those with lots of time, creativity, or internal discipline. In Faith Habits and How To Form Them, Emma masterfully shows how varied, fun, and accessible they can be for every season of life. Her relatable storytelling and abundant ideas for incorporating ancient disciplines into modern life make this book a welcome companion on the spiritual journey. As a mom of young kids, I let out a big exhale as I read it!"

Caroline Williams; founder of The Yoga Abbey

"Before Emma ever put pen to paper to write 'Faith Habits and how to form them', she was living out the words of this book in the ordinary hours, days and years of her own life. She writes from the heart, and from a place of actual dirt-under-the-fingernails, working-out-what-works life experience. May the practical wisdom and kind invitation of 'Faith Habits' be the gentle companion you've been waiting for."

Vicky Allen - author of 'Wonder Lines

"Faith Habits is an accessible, insightful and practical treasure trove of wisdom for anyone seeking a deeper, more authentic spirituality. With beautiful vulnerability, Emma has revealed through her own story and experiences how life in all its fullness really is possible. This book is a pure gift!"

Alain Emerson - Author of The God Story

"Emma Timms' beautiful book is a contemporary primer on Practicing the Presence of God, revealing that anything can be a spiritual practice if we are aware of God with us, in us and all around us. In Faith Habits and How to Form Them, Timms invites us into a posture of the heart that will deepen our awareness of the Divine Companion as we braid the holy with the everyday. May this book be a blessing to every hand that holds it."

Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt