Centering Prayer

There is a passage early on in the Gospel of Mark when Simon’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever. Jesus takes her by the hand and lifts her up, and she’s made well. And suddenly, that quick, Mark tells us that the entire town was at their doorstep – the sick, the hurting, the possessed. And you can imagine Jesus going from person to person. The overwhelming need. The overwhelming desperation: Can you heal my daughter? My husband, he’s been suffering… My son…

Reading this you might wonder how does Jesus keep going? The need is never-ending. But then, Mark gives us a glimpse, “In the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place…and there he prayed.”

I want to get practical for just a minute here. Prayer in theory is one thing. Prayer out of desperation is one thing. But the question is: How do you make prayer a guiding / shaping force in your life?

You know, we usually think about prayer as a conversation – and often a pretty one-sided conversation. And so often for me, it becomes a litany: God, I need help. I need this, I need that. Jim needs healing…

And prayer is that. But it is not only that. Prayer is also communion – that is: simply sitting in God’s presence – being aware of God’s presence – giving attention to him. It is a kind of offering that brings us into a direct experience of something bigger than ourselves.

If you’ve never tried this kind of prayer before, I invite you to try it this week. Find a quiet place where you can give your undivided time and attention to Christ. Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths. Slowly become aware of God’s presence around you and in you. Focus on your breath and the life-giving, healing Spirit of God that is all around us. When your mind drifts, gently let go of the thoughts, offer them to God, and come back to that breath. Alternatively, you might focus on a short passage of scripture, and when your mind drifts, return to the scripture. You may do this 1,000 times, and that’s ok. Trust that God is meeting you in this time. Perhaps set a timer for two minutes… working your way up to five minutes… then maybe up to 20 minutes.

Marjory Thompson says that when “we… simply become quiet before God, the Spirit is free to work its healing mysteries in us: releasing us from bondage, energizing new patterns of life, restoring our soul…”

Let us pray: Gracious God, we want to be the kind of people who are centered, non-anxious, and hopeful. We want to be at peace with ourselves and at peace with others. Help us make time for you. Meet us in this offering this week; through Christ, our Savior. Amen.