Centering Prayer

[Reimagine Curator]

Prayer is a vital part of a Healthy Spiritual Life

Written by the Church Health Center Staff

 

A healthy spiritual life is an important part of overall wellness.  An active and healthy faith life means that we are concerned with something larger than ourselves.  It also means, most often, that we are a part of a community of people with similar beliefs and priority to ours.  But we sometimes become bored with our normal spiritual routine.  One way to add something different to our faith life is to try a practice called “Centering Prayer.”

 

Centering prayer is an ancient form of prayer that is a combination of prayer and meditation.  The practice was revived in the 1960s and 70s by three Cisterian monks.  The practice of centering prayer allows for the recognition of thoughts and gently releases them into the hands of God.  This form of prayer relies on the awareness that the Holy Spirit resides in the one who prays, connecting them heart to heart with God. 

How do you begin this practice of centering prayer?

 

1.     Set aside a minimum of fifteen minutes (increase the time as you can). Set a timer if that helps you to be less concerned about when to stop.

2.     Settle into a comfortable position.

3.     Intentionally place yourself in the presence of God, in the center of his love.

4.     Choose a simple word, phrase, or verse from Scripture that expresses your desire for God (e.g., love, peace, grace, Jesus, Great Shepherd). Let this word guard your attention.

5.     Take time to become quiet. It is not unusual for the first minutes to be filled with many noisy thoughts. Don’t worry about them or pay attention to them. Let them go. Gently return your attention to the center of God’s presence and love by repeating the Scripture that you select. Let the verse draw your attention back to Jesus. Be with Jesus. Listen. Be still.

 

Because centering prayer is a way of being with Jesus that doesn’t cover prayer concerns, some people wonder if it counts as real prayer. Furthermore, if it doesn’t make you feel or experience something particular, what does it do? It is never possible to judge the value of any prayer based on feeling or experience alone. Experiences are not the point. In centering prayer the goal is to so dwell in Christ that the fruit of this dwelling begins to show up in your life. Centering prayer may “do” nothing at the moment. You sense no rapture, no mystical bliss. But later, as you move out into the business of life, you begin to notice that something has shifted. Your quiet center in Christ holds. Centering prayer trusts that being with Jesus brings transformation.

From: http://www.churchhealthcenter.org/

[Paul "Mike" Kadow]

This idea of centering prayer seems close to the idea of repeating a "Mantra" as used in Transcendental Meditation and the like. I would be careful with this type of prayer because it leaves yourself exposed to the attack of the enemy. Just my opinion mind you.

[Reimagine Curator]

Important caution, Mike!

 

My opinion: TM's "mantra" practice is a counterfeit of authentic Christian prayer and should be avoided but, as a counterfeit, we must reclaim the real thing. Centering on scripture when yielded to the Spirit is a vital aspect of praising, declaring, and also hearing from the Lord.

 

Thanks for your genuine concern.

 

Feedback welcomed,

Phil

[Paul "Mike" Kadow]

Phil, if you will, please allow another look at what you advocate.

This is "Contemplative Prayer"  Now this maybe a blessing for many,

but for others it can be dangerous. The Bible does not teach this type

of prayer. I do not mean to be disruptive but feel an obligation to point this out.

See the attached link.

 

http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/006/contemplative-narloch.htm

[Reimagine Curator]

Grateful for your sincere concern and I certainly do not want to help anyone divert from the straight and narrow path.

 

My take - Satan attempts to sabotage or counterfeit every biblical spiritual discipline but that does not mean we can no longer practice the pure form of that discipline. Many speakers misuse and even abuse preaching ; our approach is to pint out those who are in erro and teach the proper use of that means of commuicaiton.

 

Even the types of prayer identified and defined in the link you gave me are misused (most often, in my opinion, by well intentioned Christians). We teach the true way and expose the error. We do not prohibit the use of praise simply because someone uses that mode to draw attention to them self (for example).

Joshua 1:⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.  -- The term mediate means to: whisper, muse, murmur, imagine ...

 

Please help me better understand your position: If someone is in a contemplative prayer mode, focused on scripture and centered on Christ under the filling (leadership) of the Holy Spirit ... what still concerns you?

 

Thanks for the stimulating conversaiton ,

Phil