To the quiet mind all things are possible.
Centering Prayer quiets our mind. It quiets our mind during our silent sit. It also quiets our mind during the regular course of the day.
When the mind is still, God can and will act!
I have noticed the following fruits of my Centering Prayer practice.
After a morning sit I am calm, yet excited to begin my day. I am filled with energy to take on the day’s tasks.
My silent sit teaches me when to act and when to just sit still. Sometimes the best action is no action.
My silent sit teaches me what it is I need to do today and what can wait.
My silent sit reveals when I need to speak and when I need to shut up.
My silent sit nudges me to call or email an old friend to just say hello.
My silent sit prompts me to volunteer at the local soup kitchen.
My silent sit informs me to take a break today. Turn off my cell phone, iPad and laptop and watch a movie, read a book, take a walk or spend more time with my wife and children.
My afternoon sit at work fills me with energy and helps me finish the tasks that need to get done before I leave for the day.
When I quiet my mind I hear the Voice and nudge of God.
When I quiet my mind all the things God wishes I do are revealed.
I agree with Meister Eckhart!
To the quiet mind all things are possible!
Go further:
Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening was the first book I read as I began my centering prayer practice. Enjoy my review of this wonderful book.
Healing the Divide: Recovering Christianity’s Mystic Roots by Amos Smith
Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life by Amos Smith
The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice by Cynthia Bourgeault
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Contemplative Discernment by Fr. Carl Arico, Pamela Begeman, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler: A contemplative practice of discernment is not about decision-making, although this may be an eventual outcome. Rather, contemplative discernment is receptive in nature, a process of opening to receive clues about who we are in God. We focus on ever-deepening levels of relationship and trust in God’s will for us. We learn how to listen deeply to our motivations and sort through and purify any mixed motivations. As this relationship deepens, we learn to allow the love of God to motivate our actions and manifest through us. We discover what it means to truly pray “not my will, but Thy will.”
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Practicing the Presence of God by Pamela Begeman, Mary Ann Brussat, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, David Frenette: We live in a world of complexity, fragmentation, noise, and haste. We sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of tasks, appointments, and commitments facing us. How can we experience God in the midst of the busyness, responsibilities, and activities of our daily lives? By practice. By living more in the present moment. By practicing the presence of God in the present moment.
Authentic Orthodox prayer ropes and bracelets are handmade by monks in the Orthodox monastaries reciting a prayer for every knot they tie.
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Contemplative Light offers courses on contemplative practices (Christian Meditation, Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, The Jesus Prayer), the Christian mystics (ancient and current) and spiritual writing. Peruse their wonderful offerings.