Intimate Prayer, contemplative, meditative, Christian, creative

Practice Being Quiet
(c) Wanda Schwandt 2001

Quieting your soul takes practice, but the results are amazing. In today’s lifestyle we rush from one thing to the next, always doing, always busy. When we are preoccupied with worldly things, the holy seems distant. Practice this quieting activity several times this week and notice that it gets easier to find that quiet place away from daily tensions. You now have a place to escape to when you need it.

Quieting your soul takes practice, but the results are amazing. In today’s lifestyle we rush from one thing to the next, always doing, always busy. When we are preoccupied with worldly things, the holy seems distant. We must admit that in some way we want to keep it that way. What are some ways you have kept God away? Why might that be?

“Without prayer we become deaf to the voice of divine love and become confused by the many competing voices asking for our attention. When we try to become very still, we often find ourselves so overwhelmed by our noisy inner voices and we can hardly wait to get busy and distracted again. Our inner life often looks like "a banana tree full of jumping monkeys! But when we decide not to run away and stay focused, the monkeys may gradually go away due to lack of attention, and the soft gentle voice calling us may gradually make itself heard.” (Henri Nouwen).

Prayer is two-way communication with our Creator, our Friend, and our Inspiration. God invites you to “Be still” and become aware of His presence and love for you. He longs to provide your every need if you will quiet your soul and come away for a time.

Psalm 23:1-3a: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.

Close your eyes and take a moment to imagine yourself lying down in a green pasture next to a crystal lake. What do you “see” around you? Animals? Cloud formations? Feel the sun on your skin and absorb its warmth. Imagine that sun is God warming you iwith love. Drink in the peacefulness and quietness of this idyllic spot. Don’t rush through this. Breathe deeply and slowly. Stay in the pasture until you feel some of your tension ebbing away.

Practice this quieting activity several times this week and notice that it gets easier to find that quiet place away from daily tensions. You now have a place to escape to when you need it. This is the beginning of intimate prayer – finding that place of quiet communion. Escape there often.

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Intimate Prayer celebrates the mysterious flow of love between God, you and others through prayer. Featured here are a variety of prayer styles which aim to direct your heart toward God.
*"Prayer is the inner bath into which the soul plunges itself." - St. John Vianney*
DRAWING NEAR	Practice Being Quiet (c) Wanda Schwandt 2001 Quieting your soul takes practice, but the results are amazing. In today’s lifestyle we rush from one thing to the next, always doing, always busy. When we are preoccupied with worldly things, the holy seems distant. Practice this quieting activity several times this week and notice that it gets easier to find that quiet place away from daily tensions. You now have a place to escape to when you need it. Quieting your soul takes practice, but the results are amazing. In today’s lifestyle we rush from one thing to the next, always doing, always busy. When we are preoccupied with worldly things, the holy seems distant. We must admit that in some way we want to keep it that way. What are some ways you have kept God away? Why might that be? “Without prayer we become deaf to the voice of divine love and become confused by the many competing voices asking for our attention. When we try to become very still, we often find ourselves so overwhelmed by our noisy inner voices and we can hardly wait to get busy and distracted again. Our inner life often looks like "a banana tree full of jumping monkeys! But when we decide not to run away and stay focused, the monkeys may gradually go away due to lack of attention, and the soft gentle voice calling us may gradually make itself heard.” (Henri Nouwen). Prayer is two-way communication with our Creator, our Friend, and our Inspiration. God invites you to “Be still” and become aware of His presence and love for you. He longs to provide your every need if you will quiet your soul and come away for a time. Psalm 23:1-3a: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. Close your eyes and take a moment to imagine yourself lying down in a green pasture next to a crystal lake. What do you “see” around you? Animals? Cloud formations? Feel the sun on your skin and absorb its warmth. Imagine that sun is God warming you iwith love. Drink in the peacefulness and quietness of this idyllic spot. Don’t rush through this. Breathe deeply and slowly. Stay in the pasture until you feel some of your tension ebbing away. Practice this quieting activity several times this week and notice that it gets easier to find that quiet place away from daily tensions. You now have a place to escape to when you need it. This is the beginning of intimate prayer – finding that place of quiet communion. Escape there often. RECOMMENDED READING:
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