The poem in the picture above is a Haiku. The simplicity of this Japanese poetic form has been an unexpected gift in my meditation and prayer time. It helps me clear my scattered thoughts and focus on a specific word of God’s Word and applying it to my life.

For me this is a deliberate act of submission. It helps me take a broad and powerful truth from God’s Word and make it into a focused, crystal clear declaration.

When I rise from my quiet time to go on with the pleasures and pressures of the day my focus remains on what God has said to me in this sweet moment of clarity.

If you would like to use this in your own quiet time here is an outline:

A Haiku is a powerful little poem that helps clear your mind. It follows a strict 3-line structure: 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. We use this structure as a spiritual filter to capture God’s truth, not our own thoughts.

5 Steps To Creating Your Own Haiku

1.  Find the Core Truth

Begin by reading and meditating on Scripture.

• Goal: Pinpoint the single most impactful truth, command, or revelation the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you right now. This is your foundation.
• It’s not about your feelings; it’s about His Word.

2.  Distill to One Image

Take that spiritual truth and find one concrete image that represents it.

• Goal: Give the abstract concept a visual form (e.g., ‘Grace’ becomes ‘shelter,’ ‘Forgiveness’ becomes ‘clean flowing water’).
• Focus on the image that best clarifies God’s action or character.

3.  Submit to the Structure

Using the 5-7-5 syllable constraint, draft your three lines.

• Goal: Let the structure force you to select only the most precise, potent words.
• This is an act of submission—letting the form strip away your own unnecessary words.

4.  Bring Clarity to the Message

Ensure the lines connect but also create a moment of insight in the third line.

• Goal: The last line should offer the spiritual conclusion, application, or humble response to the truth presented in the first two lines.
• The final line should point the meaning back to His glory.

5.  Pray and Act

Read the final haiku aloud slowly. Do not over-edit it.

• Goal: Use the finished poem as a concise prayer.
• Commit to letting this truth guide your action as you move from meditation into the world.