I became interested in baking bread when I was a young wife. At that time, I was very interested in baking with bran and trying my hand at several types of muffin and bread recipes. Sometimes I would become very frustrated with my results and would put bread baking aside for a while. As a wife and mother with three young children, it wasn’t difficult to get sidetracked by life and feel as if I didn’t have the time to bake fresh, homemade goods. I even told myself that I lacked the skills to bake.
However, over the years at times I’d get the urge to bake fresh bread again, and I would try different recipes. I remember after one trip to Maine, and dining at Acadia National Park’s Jordan Pond House, I wanted to try my hand at making Popovers. I was pleased to find that I could make them surprisingly delicious.
Through the years, I have worked with flour and yeast. I’ve even tried my hand at growing my own wheat. I tried different bread-making techniques all with the goal to provide something healthy and delicious for my family to eat. A few failures paused my attempts, but something deep within would bring back my desire to bake bread.
A few years ago, while pulling into my parking spot at the school where I work, I noticed one of my peers carrying in a bread basket with the most beautiful loaves of bread. I quickly got out of my car, met up with my fellow teacher, and asked if the bread she was carrying was some that she had made. It was sourdough loaves that she made and brought in to share. I briefly asked about sourdough and if she found making bread relaxing. She responded by telling me how baking bread de-stressed her. She offered to give me a sourdough starter with instructions. That was a pivotal moment.
CHALLENGES x CONSISTENCY = IMPROVEMENT
Though I have had my challenges and frustrations with my attempts, I have consistently worked to improve my skills and keep my sourdough starter, whom I call “Giver,” alive and well. In the past few months, I decided to try out new recipes each week and make other goodies using my sourdough. To include scones, cookies, and muffins. It is fun and relaxing for me, and I enjoy sharing them with family and friends. Consistency has helped me, but I have often wondered why I keep coming back to bread baking.
I was given a digital copy of Kendall Vanderslice’s book “Bake & Pray”, but I love having my hands on a book without the screen light glaring into my eyes. So, I recently purchased a hard copy of “Bake & Pray”. Bake & Pray Now, I am a person who enjoys doing activities where I can see the results of my work. It is probably why I enjoy gardening, baking, and teaching. It is not just about the process of getting from A to Z. Moreover, it’s witnessing a transformation!
Vanderslice wrote something very beautiful in “Bake & Pray”; “Bread in these instances is not merely a metaphor. The very chemistry of the baking of bread mirrors God’s work in the world. We might say that bread is a form of language through which God speaks to us. And learning the language of bread by actually baking it –paying attention to our senses and moving our hands to mix, shape, bake, and listen to what the bread has to say—is a form of prayer. The process draws us into the presence of God and invites us to know God in a new way. This doesn’t require any special tools or tricks beyond what’s needed to make an ordinary loaf of bread.” (Vanderslice, 2024)
Bread is a form of language through which God speaks to us… The process draws us into the presence of God.
It is my innermost being that longs to create, quiet my soul, and know God more deeply. Bread baking moves me consistently each week to experience God’s model of transformation. I would encourage you to try your hand at bread baking and allow that time to be prayerful. It doesn’t matter if you bake traditional yeast bread, sourdough, or make muffins. Use the time to reflect on transformation and how God wants to transform you.
WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK …
A big change that helped me with my baking skills was consistently baking each week. Below are a few points on encompassing consistency in your garden or baking endeavors.
- Set Clear, Specific Goals – Define exactly what you’re working toward.
- Create a Routine – Build structure around your goals to make habits automatic.
- Start Small – Begin with manageable tasks.
- Track Your Progress – Journal to stay aware and motivated.
- Limit Distractions – Reduce friction by minimizing things that pull you away from your priorities.
- Accept Imperfection – Don’t let one bad day derail your whole plan; consistency is about the long game.
- Keep Coming Back – Week after week and day after day. Consistency will happen.
JOURNAL PROMPT
“What area of my life do I want to be more consistent in, and what small daily action can I take to start showing up regularly?”
MORE THAN JUST BAKING BREAD, THIS IS WORSHIP!
Too often we do the work before us to simply get it done. When we do that we miss the greater value that God intends for us to gain from it. Bread baking can be your time to pray, be renewed in your mind, and be transformed by God’s Spirit. Yes, this is learning, work, time, commitment and more but this is also worship – and worship can be done especially well in community. So share your bread baking worship with others. Tap the button below to email me and share about your baking.
