A Helpful "Centering Prayer"

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.    

Romans 15:13  NIV

   From time to time it is good to be reminded of the practice of “centering prayer”.  A centering prayer is a prayer that brings trust in God back to the center of our heart.  When trust in God gets pushed out of our heart, anxiety or anger take its place.  If we “catch” ourselves being anxious or angry, we can use a centering prayer to reaffirm our trust in God, so that His joy, peace and hope can refill our hearts.   Below is a good example of a centering prayer.

      “Father in Heaven, I trust You.  I believe that You love me and that You are always working for my good.  I believe that You are working for my good right now and that You will ultimately make all things good for me and for all of your people.  Please give me grace to trust You and please fill me with Your joy, peace and hope.”

   Write this prayer down on an index card.  Carry it with you and pray it at various times of the day throughout this week, especially if you sense anxiety or anger rising in your heart.  In some situations, you may need to pray the prayer several times to help you focus your attention on God.  Keep in mind that these are not magic words.  Your prayer must be a sincere expression of your heart.  

Centering Prayer and the Priceless Treasure of God's Kingdom

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.    Matthew 13:45-46 NIV

 

 

It's been said that undivided attention may be the world's scarcest resource. One thing for sure is that a lack of focused attention hinders our walk with God.  This weekly "SPA" is all about practices you can use to increase the attention you give to God, which in turn helps you trust him, which in turn helps you to experience the good life he offers us. Even better, the more we experience God's goodness, the more it flows through us to others so they can trust his goodness, too.

There are all kinds of practices, some well known and some less known. One practice is called "centering prayer". A "centering prayer" is a brief prayer we pray often, with sincerity, that helps us reconnect with God and his great goodness. Sometimes it helps to close your eyes or breathe deeply while you pray this prayer. This week, try using this "centering prayer" several times a day to help you remember the priceless value of God's Kingdom and increase your desire to seek his kingdom first. You can write it on an index card to carry it with you while you learn it.

 

"Father, you are the only good and great King. Your kingdom is better than anything this world has to offer. Please open my eyes to see more of the beauty and greatness of your kingdom and give me strength to seek your kingdom above everything else today."