centering prayer: be still and know

I’ve written about several types of contemplative prayer, like breath prayer, lectio divina, and welcoming prayer. I’ve also shared about using prayer beads in a contemplative prayer practice. Centering prayer is the one technique I’ve tried but haven’t mentioned (before now). Perhaps that’s because I find it to be a little more difficult. It’s the closest to meditation of all the practices, and I find it very hard to shut off my mind. However, with regular practice, centering prayer can bring a wealth of peace and connection to your prayer life. Let’s dive in!

What is centering prayer?

Centering prayer is a contemplative practice focused on sitting in God’s presence and listening. It’s a slowing down, being still, enjoying the quiet, and receiving. So much of our prayer time is often spent with us doing the talking. We offer requests and praises. But the intent of this practice is to listen and soak up God’s presence. Over time, you may be surprised by how the experience forms your outlook and enriches your days. It’s a good way to reset.

I can’t help but think of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” This whole chapter is full of powerful imagery–the earth shaking, mountains falling, and waters roaring. All this smacks of instability and fear. Yet, there is a river bringing joy to the city of God (verse four), a metaphor for the sustaining and renewing presence of God. This speaks to the hope that, even in times of climate crisis, social injustice, or personal trials, God’s presence flows like life-giving water, calling us to faith. Verse ten invites us to step away from the noise of the world, as in centering prayer, and into a place of trust and quiet. This stillness is a grounding moment that empowers us to work for peace, equity, and restoration.

There’s a fantastic app to guide you in the process of centering prayer. If you’re thinking of trying this out, I strongly recommend using the app.

How does it work?

Let’s break it down into a few steps:

Find a quiet and comfortable space.

Ideally, set aside a specific place in your home for this practice. You’ll need a comfortable place to sit. Bring in a few things to help you set a tone: a candle, your Bible, a journal, and a pen. Whatever would mark this as a special space for prayer for you. You’ll need to tune out distractions, so keep that in mind as you prepare your spot.

Select a sacred word symbolizing your consent to God’s presence and work in your life.

Your word can be anything that resonates with you. Some possibilities are peace, joy, abide, Spirit, mercy, or holy. You can choose one word that you use every time, or you can change the word during different seasons of your life. I always use the word REIGN. I like it because it signifies that I want God to reign in my heart and thoughts. It works well to bring my focus back to God when I get distracted.

Close your eyes and take several deep breaths.

At this time, you’ll need to set a timer. When you’re starting out, I recommend using ten minutes. As you settle into the practice, you may want to increase the time to twenty minutes. Do what feels right for you. I use the centering prayer app mentioned above. It provides a nice opening thought, a timer, and a tone to end the time. You can customize the settings in the app.

Clear your mind and rest in the moment. When distractions arise, gently repeat your sacred word.

It helps me to focus on my breathing. I keep my eyes closed. Notice the wording: WHEN distractions arise, not IF. It’s inevitable that your mind will wander. Don’t be hard on yourself. Gently bring yourself back to God’s presence by repeating your sacred word. Over and over again if need be. The idea is to be still, calm, and in a posture of listening and receiving.

Come out of your prayer time slowly and then take a few minutes to journal your experience.

Take a few more deep breaths and gradually open your eyes. Then grab your journal. Maybe you noticed something during your quiet time. Maybe you found inspiration. Perhaps a song or Bible verse came to mind. Write it down and take a few minutes to reflect.

I’ve summarized the steps in this graphic which you can print and use for reference if you like:

What do you think?

Is centering prayer something you might try? If you do, I’d love to hear about your experiences. We can learn from each other.

I’d like to end this article with the scripture my app uses to end my centering prayer time: “Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth—teach it to me—because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5). Amen.

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Fondly,

Crysti