“When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,…
(Matthew 6: 6).
Centering Prayer is a simple practice that opens us to the gift of contemplative prayer.
In contemplative prayer, we sit with God. We open our mind, heart, and body to God, who is beyond thoughts, words, and emotions.
It is like sitting with a close friend or someone you love.
No words need to be said.
Centering Prayer does not replace other forms of prayer—it complements them.
It is both a relationship with God and a discipline that deepens that relationship.
God is delighted when we take time to sit with Him.
I invite you to take time to sit with God and see what happens.
Want Help Getting Started?
If you’d like a simple way to begin, I created a free Centering Prayer ebook to guide you.
It walks through the basics in a clear and practical way so you can begin sitting in silence with God right away.
The Four Simple Steps
Summarized in my own words, Centering Prayer can be practiced in four simple steps:
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Select a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to open yourself to God’s presence and action within.
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Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and gently introduce the sacred word.
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When you become aware of thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations, return ever so gently to your sacred word.
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At the end of the prayer time, remain in silence for a minute or two before resuming your daily activities.
In the next four meditations, I will reflect on each step of the Centering Prayer practice. I hope you will join me.
Go Further
If you’d like to explore more, these books have been especially helpful to me:
Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening — Cynthia Bourgeault
The Path of Centering Prayer — David Frenette
Open Mind, Open Heart — Thomas Keating
If you found this helpful, feel free to share it with others.
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