Silence is God’s classroom. That is why I return to it each day!
It is nice to take a step back and observe God’s activity in my life.
Let me share insights/fruits that I have experienced as a result of my Centering Prayer practice:
- Centering prayer is my invitation to slow down!
- When I slow down I learn to listen and see from my heart.
- I need silent pauses throughout the day. They help me to operate and listen from my heart.
- Watch and observe things without inner judgment.
- Be present and enjoy life’s moments. Life moves fast.
- Discern if my action will bring inner peace and without harm to another.
- I often do not need to take an immediate and impulsive action.
- Wait: Be Patient.
- Sometimes no action is needed.
- Stop worrying. It serves no purpose.
- Centering Prayer seems to teach me to take one of the four below actions:
~Wait.
~Do not do it.
~Let go of extraneous information and discern the information needed to make a wise decision.
~Delegate.
- Do not overcomplicate things.
- Each day is a new beginning.
- I can begin again each moment.
- Do not be jealous of others’ success. Be happy for them. Help them succeed.
- Take small steps each day: God’s clarity comes with action.
- Fear is never a reason not to try something new.
- Trust my Inner Nudges.
- God is present all the time: silent and nonsilent times.
- God is in both the noise and the silence.
- God is a constant and ever loving Presence.
- I sit with Jesus so I can walk with Jesus.
I encourage you to also take a step back and observe your life.
Where do you see God’s activity in your life? What fruits and insights has God revealed to you?
Go Further:
To go further I recommend:
Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment by J. Brent Bill.
Living in God: Contemplative Prayer and Contemplative Action by Nicholas Amato.
Moving from Stress to Joy by Nicholas Amato.
Pilgrimage of a Soul: Contemplative Spirituality for the Active Life by Phileena Heuertz
Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life by Amos Smith
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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.
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These are true of my silent, alone times with God as well. Thank you for sharing your list. What it proves is that God is active in the silence. We center our thoughts and being in Him and He keeps us centered. Thanks, Rich.
Thanks Norma! Yes it is so true. God is indeed active in the silence!