Hi Friends!
I hope you’ve been able to find some time to try out praying without words with Centering Prayer. If it feels hard, you’re probably doing it right!
I wanted to pop in with a bonus practice. Another way to practice getting into God’s presence and being with Him. Still letting yourself be loved while doing nothing.
We’re all wired differently and have different ways of connecting to God. If after trying centering prayer you are still struggling to feel like you’re in God’s presence, it may be helpful to try Imaginative Prayer.
You can pray imaginatively in many ways (and we may try some more out in the future) but for now, we’re going to stick with praying wordlessly and using our imaginations to come into God’s presence and allow ourselves to be loved by Him.
Try these steps:
Get alone and comfortable in a quiet space.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Begin to imagine yourself in a physical environment that is peaceful and calm. You may be in creation-a lake, meadow, mountain or ocean. It could be a place in your home. Anywhere that feels safe and beautiful and peaceful.
Now allow yourself to become aware of your surroundings. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel?
Next, allow yourself to become aware of God’s presence there with you. You may perceive Him in bodily form or not. There’s no right or way for Him to appear or be revealed.
Now just be with Him. Allow yourself to be loved by Him in this safe space for as long as you need.
And that’s it!
You may want to transition out of this space by listening to God. Ask Him a question there in that safe space and see how He answers.
If you’d like a little more guidance, this short podcast takes you through a pretty similar practice.
So when will you make space in your schedule for imaginative prayer? What is God inviting you to regarding this practice? Ask Him. Then think about giving it a try 😊
And may you encounter the God who loves you as you make space in your schedule and your soul.