Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Chicken Soup for the Soul cocreators Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen with Chris Karcher
ABC's Dr. Timothy Johnson,
Finding God in the Questions, and Chris
.
Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, and Chris Karcher
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Practice centering prayer
Centering prayer is a two-stage process.
The first stage is to settle into stillness and become aware of God’s presence. Quakers call this centering down. It involves coming into the present moment by quieting the mind, letting go of problems, and releasing distractions.
Find a quiet place and let family members know you do not want to be interrupted. Sit comfortably. Begin repeating a sacred phrase or word: for example, peace, Lord, love, God is love. This helps you quiet internal dialogue and become more God-centered. Repeat your sacred phrase effortlessly, in silence, until you reach a state of stillness. Do not concentrate or work at it, just gently repeat it.
Some feel the sacred phrase should be a one-syllable word. Others prefer a longer word or short phrase. Some suggest using the same sacred phrase all the time. Others alter it. Some people prefer to visualize an image instead of repeating a phrase. Experiment and see what works for you.
The intent is to move away from thoughts and into the presence of God.
The second stage of centering prayer is sitting in silence in the presence of God. This is a time for you to listen, not talk, to God. If you are struggling with a problem, gently ask for guidance. Then listen for the response.
If your mind wanders, effortlessly return to your sacred phrase until you reach a state of stillness. As you sit in silence, you can still hear the phone ring and the house creak. Thoughts will come and go, especially during times of stress. Do not fight them or struggle to make your mind go blank. If a distracting thought is persistent, write it down on a notepad to release it, or think of a visual image such as a river to carry it away.
For some people, the effect of centering prayer is dramatic from the start. Others find sitting quietly difficult at first. A friend claimed it was the longest five minutes of her life when she tried it. You will become more comfortable sitting in stillness the more you practice. As you move deeper into the presence of God, you will find the deep silence is full and rich.
It helps to choose a regular time so it becomes part of your daily routine. Twenty minutes twice a day—once in the morning before you start your day and again in late afternoon to carry you through the rest of the evening—is the guidance I received. Experiment to see what works for you. Some people prefer a longer session in the morning. If you find these timelines to be impossible, do what works. Any amount of time is better than none.
If possible, choose a regular place for prayer: among the pillows on your bed, in the corner of an unused room, on a chair in the family room.
The time and place should be quiet and free of interruptions. Some get up early before others awaken. Some wait until after the children go to school. A friend places a sign on the door to let her husband know it is her quiet time and she does not want to be disturbed.
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Copyright © 2003 by Christine N. Karcher. Chris Karcher is the author of Relationships of Grace, Amazing Things I Know About You, and Relationships of Grace Workbook. To order books and tapes, schedule Chris for speaking engagements, or subscribe to Chris’ newsletter, visit www.relationshipsofgrace.com, email order@relationshipsofgrace.com, or call 1-877-GET-GRACE (1-877-438-4722).