Why I Practice Centering Prayer
I practice centering prayer because I want to open myself to the presence and action of God within.
I want to let go of me, my striving, my self-image, my need to manage outcomes and trust that God will pray in me what God knows I most need.
I love God, and I simply want to sit with Him.
I want to rest in the rest of God.
I want God to heal me and transform me from the inside out.
I want God to pray in me the actions God wishes me to take.
I want God to pray in me the wisdom I need for my daily life.
There are times when I am anxious and worried.
In those moments, I bring my anxiety and fear to God and ask for the exchange,
my restlessness for God’s peace,
my tension for God’s calm.
I practice centering prayer because I want to deepen my relationship with God.
And I am discovering that these depths are endless.
That is what makes this path so exciting.
I want to experience as much of God as God is willing to share.
Thomas Keating once said,
“God’s love is like a blazing fire. If we let it, it will burn us to a crisp.”
He wasn’t speaking of destruction, but purification,
the gentle burning away of ego, false identity, and fear
until all that remains is our true self, hidden in God.
I need my twice-daily sits.
I cannot imagine my life without them.
They show me the way forward.
Silence teaches me who I am.
And ultimately, even these desires must be released.
My deepest work is to let go of all the wants I’ve named above…
…to trust God,
and see what happens.
Why do you practice centering prayer?
If this reflection stirs something in you and you’d like a companion for your own journey of letting go and transformation, that’s the work I do in my one-on-one coaching. If you’d like support in that, I’d be honored to walk with you. You can schedule a free consultation here.
