Centering Prayer: 5 in the Afternoon

Feeling adrift as the new year begins? Finding peace in the midst of daily chaos is possible, but it takes practice. Join Whitney to establish an afternoon practice of Centering Prayer and discover refreshment in your day. 

Find a seated posture and be guided into 5 minutes of silence, then return to the quiet daily this week and notice the groundedness you begin to experience. 

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:01

Hi, I'm Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. I'm glad you're here today. Maybe you, like me, are clinging to some grounding practices in the start of a new year, but maybe you need a little bit of help, encouragement, companionship, encouragement, companionship. So we're going to continue leaning into the silent practice of centering prayer. Today's time is designed for an afternoon pick-me-up, a bit of rejuvenation when you need it most. So take a moment and find a comfortable seated posture. Allow your spine to be long. Imagine as if your head were an antenna opening up to God and your seat is grounded to the earth, to the chair, whatever's beneath you. Allow your hands to gently rest in your lap. Soften your gaze, close your eyes if that feels safe. Now take a deep breath in and slowly exhale Again. Breathe in deeply and this time try to lengthen your exhale a bit longer. Feel yourself supported, connected, and recognize that God is with you right here, right now. Loving God, we come to you in the middle of the day, longing for your presence, your care, your companionship. Rejuvenate us, give us what we need your peace, energy, clarity or strength. We open our hands to trust, to receive and to know that you meet us right where we are right now, where we are right now.

Speaker 1 2:47

Now pick a, this word, just be for today your centering word and, as you breathe naturally, just silently repeat your word for a few breaths, allowing that word to flow as gently as your breath. Notice it without judgment, try not to cling to it, but use it. Use it over the next five minutes as we pause in the silence, when your mind wanders. Notice your word Silently, hold it, return to it and breathe no-transcript. Thank you. I'm going to take a few more minutes to get back to you. Thank you, god, for this pause with you today, for rooting and grounding and renewing us this afternoon. Help us carry your presence with us into the remainder of this day. In your holy name we pray Amen.

Speaker 1 9:15

When you're ready, you'll slowly take a deep breath in and a long breath out. Wiggle your fingers and your toes, consider reaching your arms up for a giant stretch, maybe bend side to side, take a twist, open your eyes when you're ready and go about your day centered and grounded in the one who gives you breath and life. I value your trust as we explore the gift of God's peace together. If you'd like to connect beyond this time, you can find our community. At exploringpeacecom slash community, I'll have a live intention-setting chair yoga class later this month. I'd love to see you there. You can find that at exploringpeacecom slash community. You can find me and my books at whitneyrsimpsoncom. And until next time, may God's peace be with you.