Centering Prayer: 15 Embodied Quiet Minutes

No matter what you're facing, God longs to meet you there. Take 15 quiet minutes to practice Centering Prayer.

Relax your body, focus on your breath, and let the soothing presence of God envelop you in this time of stillness. If 15 minutes feels like too long to be in the quiet today, look back for the 5 or 10 minute versions and start there. This session is your invitation to release tension and embrace the quiet miracle of simply being with God. Take 15 minutes to breathe and be. 

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:01

Hi, this is Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. Today's time includes an extended amount of silence. I want to invite you, if that feels intimidating or overwhelming, to go back and check out the five or ten minute versions of this Centering Prayer Invitation. Today we will enter into 15 minutes of quiet. Now, before you start to get uncomfortable, I want you to notice what is pushing back inside of you, what feels hard about being quiet for 15 minutes, and just notice that Sense it, pay attention to it. And now I invite you to let that go and not worry if you don't make it or if you hit stop before the end of this meditation.

Speaker 1 1:12

As I record this, we are in the season of ordinary time and there have been some not very ordinary things happening in my personal life that have caused my own nervous system to feel a little bit overstimulated. Maybe you feel that way too. Silence, grounding, breathing all of these things help us. Help us connect with God and be present within ourselves, the wonderful, miraculous people that God made us to be. Psalm 139, 13 and 14. For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.

Speaker 1 2:17

Let us sit in that reminder today as we breathe, if you haven't already. Soften and close your eyes, relax your shoulders. Sit up tall. If you're in a chair, make sure your feet are planted on the ground. Notice if there's any physical tension within yourself and bring a full, deep breath into your body. Exhale slowly, inviting that tension to let go. Now take a moment and become aware of your breath. Notice it entering and leaving your body, fill your belly, rise and fall. Let your awareness travel throughout your entire being, from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes. Just scan, check in, send the breath where you need it in your body today to soften, release and let go of tension, whether it's physical or emotional. Aware of this body you're in, Allow yourself to be reminded of our psalm. Be reminded that you are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.

Speaker 1 4:21

As we enter into the time of quiet, is there a word that helps you stay grounded in God? Is there an anchor word you'd like to use for this time of prayer? For when your mind wanders, see if one rises up. It might be something as simple as breathe, presence, wonderful Spirit. Let a word rise softly, hold on to it gently. I'll offer us a prayer and we'll move into the quiet. Magnificent and wonderful God, calm our hearts and our minds as we draw close to you in this moment of quiet. Help us be present with our breath and in our bodies, but mostly with you, I'm going to take a deep breath, thank you.

Speaker 2 6:01

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Speaker 2 6:56

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Speaker 2 14:36

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Speaker 1 20:38

Slowly exhale, exhale. Begin moving your fingers or your toes, recognize. Recognize this sense of embodiment that you found in the quiet, what you felt or noticed in your breath, in your body, and carry it with you as you move into your day. Remember your body is magnificent and sacred and always connected to your creator. Thank you, god, for the presence of quiet with you, for the reminder that you are as close as each breath we breathe. Be with us as we move into our days, our nights, the days to come. Be with us when our hearts need settling that can only come from you, in your holy name, we pray Amen. Need settling that can only come from you, in your holy name, we pray Amen. Thank you for exploring the gift of God's peace with me. You can find more about our community that supports this podcast at ExploringPeacecom slash community, and you can find me and my books at WhitneyRSimpsoncom. Until next time, may God's peace be with you you.