“I’m struggling with feeling, during my centering prayer time, that focusing solely on God and me is selfish.”
Is Centering Prayer a selfish practice?
We sit in silence with God who loves us.
God is delighted that we have decided to sit.
God prays in us the actions we are to take during our non silent times.
God purifies us during our silent sit.
Silent prayer removes all the emotional junk that we store in our bodies.
When we remove this junk we are able to expend this energy on acts of love, compassion and service.
Is Centering Prayer a selfish practice?
The answer is no!
It frees us to love and serve others.
Centering Prayer is an act of love for God.
Centering Prayer is an act of love for ourselves.
Centering Prayer is an act of love for others because it prepares and frees us to love and serve others.
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.
The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice by Cynthia Bourgeault
Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life by Amos Smith
Living In God: Contemplative Prayer and Contemplative Action by Nicholas Amato
Christian Meditation by James Finley
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I am currently reading Catching Your Breath: The Sacred Journey from Chaos to Calm by Steve Austin.
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Embracing Living: The Welcoming Prayer by Contemplative Outreach, Mary Dwyer, Therese Saulnier, Cherry Haisten, Jim McElroy: The Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. If Centering Prayer (or another daily prayer) is practiced for one hour of the day, the Welcoming Prayer is for the other 23 hours. It is a “letting go” in the present moment, in the midst of the activity of ordinary life.
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.
How might your life change if you were steeped more deeply in the wisdom of the Christian Mystics? Drawing on the best available writing on the topic of Christian Mysticism both ancient and modern, Contemplative Light is offering a special course on the Christian Mystics Sacred Lives: An Introduction To The Christian Mystics.
Contemplative Practices: 5 Ways of Consenting to the Divine – Learn methods practiced by Christian mystics for centuries to consent to the action and presence of God within, including Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, Christian Meditation, and the Jesus Prayer
Writing as a Spiritual Practice: This course helps you to access the rich spiritual stories that lie deeply within you. Words are powerful. The words that you write can be used to:
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- share your testimonies of how God has worked in your life
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