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“St Paul gives three stages to self-knowledge: letting go, allowing our minds to be remade, and becoming a new creation – a child of God. [1] ‘Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your minds be remade and your whole nature thus transformed’ (Phil 2:5–6)”
This is what happens during my centering prayer practice. Each time I sit with God I progress through all three stages.
Let Go
I let go of my thoughts, emotions and even physical sensations when I re-center with the use of my interior sacred Jesus icon. I then let go of my sacred icon too. (You might also use an interior word, your breath or even a glance.) This is not time to plan, worry, or even daydream. This is my time to sit with God. I need to give my attention to God. This moves me to the second stage: be remade.
Be Remade
The only way I will be remade is if I let go of all thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. They are not who I am. I can observe them. I can see what they teach me. However, ultimately they are not who I am.
This moves me into the third stage: become a new creation.
Become A New Creation
Each moment I let go, I give God an opportunity to act in me. As the Quakers say, I expect Jesus to show up. Jesus will replace my fears, anxieties, pride, anger or physical ailments with an inner peace, an inner love, an inner wisdom, an inner knowledge that I will take with me as I arise from my silent sit.
I arise from my sit a new creation. I am like a new child of God who is sent forth into the world.
This is not a once and done effort. This is a daily process. I love this time with God. I need this time with God. It excites me to know I can be remade into a new creation.
I encourage you to try a silent prayer practice such as centering prayer. Jesus will show up. Jesus will act in you. You will arise a new creation!
Go Further
Stefan Gillow Reynolds, Living in the Mind of Christ: Mindfulness in Christian Spirituality
Stefan Gillow Reynolds, The Wisdom of Love in the Song of Songs
Laurence Freeman, Jesus the Teacher Within
Laurence Freeman, First Sight: The Experience of Faith
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[1] Stefan Gillow Reynolds, Living in the Mind of Christ: Mindfulness in Christian Spirituality, (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd): 2016
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