The following is a guide to help you start a habit of worship and prayer. I recommend using the following technique twice a day. Remember these are just guidelines to get you started in developing your own worship and prayer routines and can be modified to your own individual needs. These centering guidelines were developed from the book Open Mind, Open heart, by Thomas Keating, Abbot of the Trappist Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.
Guideline 1
Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to
God’s presence and action within you.
Guideline 2
Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
Guideline 3
When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
Guideline 4
At the end of the Worship session, remain in silence with your eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Guideline Steps of Worship
Set in a comfortable straight back chair with your feet on the ground or if you choose to be in a recliner or chair in which you are reclined be sure to have good head and neck support. Please realize in this position you are much more likely to dose off.
You may want to have some good meditation music or not. I enjoy the silence when in communion with God the Father.
A timed music or a regular timer is a good Idea in case you drop off to sleep during your session and it gives you a good stopping point without having to open your eyes. If you do fall off to sleep do not criticize yourself for doing so, the Father can teach you even if you fall off to sleep.
The process I prefer in worship is:
Begin with relaxation, worship, then prayer, and finally thanksgiving leading to positive affirmations.
Take a few deep breaths with your eyes closed. Start with the top off your head and work down relaxing each muscle group one at a time. When you reach your feet, start concentrating on God the Father, open you heart mind and consciousness to the Father by saying to yourself your chosen sacred word. Each time you mind starts to wander repeat your sacred word to bring your focus back to God the Father.
Remain with your mind open and think about nothing but God the Father for about 15 minutes.
When you feel an adequate period of time has passed start bringing your request to God. At this point you have moved from worship to prayer. After you have brought all your request or concerns to God then start thanking God for your many blessings. Lastly start making a positive affirmation for yourself, such as “Thank You Father for allowing to commune with you, I will continue my day filled with your spirit and feeling terrific”. Now slowly bring yourself back into awareness of your surroundings and open your eyes. |