UPWARD DISCIPLINE

CONTEMPLATIVE

PRAYER

DESIRE

to develop an open, restful receptivity to the Trinity that enables me to always be with God just as I am

DEFINITION

Contemplative prayer is a receptive posture of openness toward God. It is a way of waiting with a heart awake to God’s presence and his Word. This kind of prayer intentionally trusts and rests in the presence of the Holy Spirit deep in our own spirit.

SCRIPTURE

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.” (Romans 8: 26-27 The Message)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3: 17-18)

“This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. . . . Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory.” (Colossians 1: 26-27 The Message)

PRACTICE INCLUDES

- practicing the presence of God

- allowing a portion of Scripture to sink deep into the heart as a prayer to God

- practicing breath prayer, simple prayer, prayer of the heart

- practicing centering prayer

- resting in God and allowing the Spirit to nudge, fill or speak

GOD-GIVEN FRUIT

-developing prayer that depends on trust more than giving God information about what he should do

-living in the awareness of God’s presence within me

-move out of “doing” prayer into “being” prayer

-learning to let go of distractions in prayer letting God love me

RESOURCES

Lectio Divina from Quiet by AJ Sherrill

In the sixth century, St. Benedict developed a meditative approach to Scripture reading called lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”). This method prioritizes what God is speaking to us just as much as what God spoke to our ancestors. In other words, lectio divina invites the Holy Spirit into the reading as it moves the reader and four distinct directions: Read, meditate, pray, contemplate.

So as not to get bogged down with new terminology, follow this simple pathway in your scripture reading today:

1) Create an inviting/inspiring space. Perhaps this means lighting a candle, tidying a room, creating a playlist to underscore, and sitting in your favorite chair.

2) Select a passage to read from Scripture.

3) Have paper/journal and a pen handy.

4) Give yourself to these four directions (20 minutes total, 5 minutes for each).

a. READ - Slowly read the selected text 3 times.

b. REFLECT - Select a word or phrase off the page that sticks out.

c. WRITE - Spend time writing about why you selected that word or phrase.

d. REST - suspend all thought and sit quietly with God. Trust that God heard your worry, anxiety and/or longings, and is acting on your behalf (Romans 8:28).

Spiritual Disciplines / Adele Ahlberg Calhoun