Centering Prayer

The goal of centering prayer is to be attentive to the presence of God within, centering all of your attention and desire on Him. This is unlike Eastern meditation, in which the goal is to empty oneself. In Centering Prayer, we consent to God’s presence and action within us. The purpose of centering prayer is not to get a word from God or any sort of divine revelation or experience, although experiences may occasionally happen. Rather the purpose is to allow God full access to the deep places of our soul to do whatever work He desires to do.

Steps to Practicing Centering Prayer:

• Choose a sacred word or short phrase as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within.

  • The word or phrase should communicate God’s love to you, such as Lord, Jesus, Abba, Father, Love, Peace, shalom, or phrases such as “I receive your love for me,” or the Jesus prayer.

  • Having chosen a word, do not change it during the prayer period. This is too much thinking and can be distracting.

• Sit comfortably

  • Don’t sit so comfortably to encourage sleep, but comfortably enough to avoid thinking about the discomfort of your body during this time of prayer.

  • Keep the back straight; assume an open posture.

• Close your eyes

  • Let go of all thoughts, tensions, and sensations that you may feel. Rest in the love of God who dwells within. Gently introduce your sacred word or phrase.

  • As thoughts subside and you become restfully aware, simply let go of the word or phrase. Just BE in the stillness with God.

  • Return to your word or phrase when thoughts, questions, or any anxieties arise.

• Emerge slowly from the silence

  • Take a couple of minutes to express thanks to God or recite the Lord’s Prayer.

History:

Centering prayer finds its origins in the early desert fathers. It is first described as a form of contemplative prayer in the 4th-century writings of the monk John Cassian (AD 360-430). A Romanian, he made a 20-year pilgrimage into the desert, then later founded a monastery for men, then women, in France. He wrote of this practice he learned from the Desert Fathers as a prayer focusing on inner freedom of the soul, listening to God, and becoming conscious of the indwelling presence of God.

He encouraged his monks to start with a simple prayer: “O God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me.” Centuries later, disciples were encouraged to gather all this desire into one simple word, one that is meaningful, that represents God in all his fullness and nothing less. This is not a meditative mantra, but rather a word to help focus on the presence of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.