Faith is the element, the “chemical” which, when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence.
– Napoleon Hill
I am a big fan of Napoleon Hill.
His writings have had a huge impact on my life.
He has much to say but more importantly if applied and put into persistent, daily action will yield powerful results.
This is what happens during Centering Prayer.
In faith we sit with God.
With the use of our sacred word we ever so gently return to and open to the presence and actions of God within.
You might also say we open to Infinite Intelligence or even the Universal Mind.
And let God, Infinite Intelligence, the Universal Mind or whatever you wish to name it pray in us.
Imagine how this will impact your life over the long term if you practice Centering Prayer day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.
Go Further:
Open Mind, Open Heart 20th Anniversary Edition by Thomas Keating and Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening were the first two books I read as I began my Centering Prayer practice.
Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation by Martin Laird
Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life by Amos Smith
Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation by Phileena Heuertz
Think and Grow Rich: The Original 1937 Unedited Edition
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks – This is a great way to listen to books with your cell phone while you drive, walk or relax at home. I frequently listen in my car during my commute to and from work. I’m a proud affiliate.
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.
A Simple Immediacy: Desert Wisdom for Advent by Cynthia Bourgeault: The Desert Fathers and Mothers of the fourth and fifth centuries are arguably the first Wisdom School in Christian history. At first in trickles and then in waves, they fled into the deserts of Egypt and Syria to escape the increasing imperialization of the Christian Church and to live in a simple immediacy with the Risen Christ. In the process, they generated an extraordinary body of practical teachings on the spiritual practices underlying this life of deeper awareness and mystical union.
Wisdom for Living: The Parables of Jesus by Thomas Keating, Contemplative Outreach: When rightly understood, the parables help us to see how extraordinary a wisdom teacher Jesus really was, and how revolutionary, in the best sense of the word, was the content of what he taught and to which he bore witness by his life and death.
Soulful Aging by Thomas Moore: As everyone knows, we are growing older all the time. But growing older is not the same as aging. Many people seem to grow older without going through the challenging life processes that make you a real person of substance and character. That kind of aging requires saying yes to the opportunities and difficult issues that life presents.
For over 2000 years men and women have set out for the hills, fields and mountains to become Monks – searching for happiness, freedom, peace, joy, balance, fulfillment, confidence, stability, passion and God.
Who says the rest of us can’t experience the same things?
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