Centering Prayer: 20 Embodied Quiet Minutes

Ever feel overwhelmed by the noise of the world around you? Join Whitney as she guides you through a 20-minute practice that embraces peace and stillness in God's presence. Let’s explore the art of Centering Prayer, a meditative practice with our whole selves. 

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:02

Hi, this is Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. I invite you to pause with me for 20 minutes of quiet today, of stillness, where we step away from the busyness and loud world, we live in and sink into the deep presence of God. Live in and sink into the deep presence of God. If this feels like a lot, if 20 minutes feels like too long to be still and be quiet, that's okay. You can pause whenever the time is right or look back on the podcast and find a shorter episode. There's a 5, 10, and 15-minute version.

Speaker 1 0:48

Now, take a full breath in and a long breath out. Invite your body to be centered. Invite your body to be settled. Invite your body to be settled, whatever posture or shape you have. Taken. Notice, if there's a way you could get 10% more comfortable.

Speaker 1 1:24

Traditionally, in Centering Prayer, we sit tall with a long spine. If you're seated, try to drop your shoulders away from your ears. Centering Prayer is a way of grounding ourselves in God's presence. It's not about achieving or striving. It's about being open open to God, allowing God to meet you in this body of yours With each breath you breathe. For the next 20 minutes, we'll settle into prayerful silence. Take a moment. Check in with your hands. Does it feel right for your palms to be open? Check in with your breath. Is it full and deep? See if it feels right to soften and close your eyes.

Speaker 1 2:43

If you use an anchor word in your centering prayer practice, that's a word that reminds you to stay here. When thoughts come and go, allow them to Use your anchor word to come back. Come back to the presence in this body of yours, with this breath you're breathing right now. If you don't have an anchor word, you can use your breath or simply use a word like light, hope, spirit, breath, breath. Let us begin acknowledging the presence of our God Creator. Thank you for this time. Hold us close, remind us of your love, help us be present now with you, the one who gave us life and breath. May the quiet bring peace to our bodies, clarity to our minds and our spirits as we pause with you now no-transcript.

Speaker 2 6:50

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Speaker 1 24:09

Take a full breath in and a long breath out. Pause for a moment of gratitude, gratitude for this time, this space and the loving presence of God who meets you, your whole self, in the quiet Creator. God, we are grateful for your peace, a gift that surpasses all understanding. Guard our hearts and our minds as we continue into our day. May we carry your stillness in our hearts now and always. Help us feel grounded, centered and held in your divine love. In your holy name we pray Amen. Thanks for practicing prayer and meditation and deep breaths here with us. I'd love to connect with you beyond this space. You can find our community at exploringpeacecom slash community and you can connect with me and find books at WhitneyRSimpsoncom. Until next time, may God's peace be with you.