Contemplative Prayer--Do you?

[AlanFromWichita]

For many years I have been blessed to be part of a contemplative prayer group…we sit in the silence in a candlelit room and just allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts. We start our prayer with the Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God”. It is a process of learning to be open to the Quiet Voice of God. It is a time of healing and time for sharing the Pure Love of our Lord. On other days, other than when the group meets, and I am hoping for the prayer of the quiet, I go to our adoration chapel. Sitting in front of the Lord, not asking for anything or telling Him anything, just being “with Him” and enjoying His most amazing company. The prayer of the quiet is the most calming, beautiful experience. On days when I am not able to make it to the chapel, I briefly think of our Lord’s face, and before long His Peace and Calm fill my soul and I can just sit with Him and share precious moments. It is a process of learning to just sit and be with Him in quiet and stillness.

I love your description of this experience.

Alan

 

[Dorothy]

everything I’ve said have been just words in my own head. anything I’ve tried to do amounts to spinning my wheels. it works great for other people but I guess I’m just not called.

We are all called to deep prayer according to what God wants of us. Don’t give up. When we make an effort with no feelings that is special to God. Trust him! He knows when we are reaching out to him, even if we think nothing is happening. Persevere.

 

[littleone]

everything I’ve said have been just words in my own head. anything I’ve tried to do amounts to spinning my wheels. it works great for other people but I guess I’m just not called.

When I read this my heart cried for you have said that you have not as yet gained the relationship of having fallen in love with your God as you can with a humen spous.

When you gain that responsive relationship where you
want to sit and gaze into tneir eyes, and nothing else matters or is their, then you have fallen in Love with that person you care about and would do anything for more than anything else.
I read and read the life of Jesus in the Bible until I cried that a God who loved me before I was born gave His life for every sin I would ever commit, died the most excruciating death only that He could show me…me, yes me a sinful man one thing…that He loved me yes regardless of my sins. And why? because He fell in love with me. I could never not love that person, the person of Jesus Christ.

Godbless
littleone

 

[littleone]

I guess it is because in illness we feel closer to Jesus if we unite our suffering with Him. And for us to do this, we are contemplating His suffering.

I have found it as I get older and struggle with illness myself, it is easier than it had been when I was younger and was healthy.

God bless.

Hi LittleOne, might it also be that as the song goes, “is it God trying to get in touch with you?” (who ever), amd the only way to do it is to stop us in our buise tracks!
Worth a thought, maybe.

Godbless
littleone

 

[seanom]

I don’t know if I practice contemplation, that’s more of a grace from God, but I do meditate on a topic for an hour, for example at the moment I’m meditating the passion of Jesus:thumbsup:

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I don’t know if I practice contemplation, that’s more of a grace from God, but I do meditate on a topic for an hour, for example at the moment I’m meditating the passion of Jesus:thumbsup:

I think I’d call that “meditation” since you are actively thinking about something in particular. Contemplative prayer forms involve silence, where we don’t actually think of anything in particular – just let thoughts gently go so that God may bring us contemplation without our getting in the way. So contemplation is a gift, but I call “contemplative prayer” a form of prayer which we do to invite this contemplation.

CCC 2700-2724

Alan

 

[fred_conty]

Struggling in a good way. I thought the CCC said that Contemplative prayer and prayer was a struggle and a battle.

Perhaps I dont’ understand what you mean by letting go, can you clarify for me please? And if you have any suggestions how I might do that, please by all means post them.

It’s just that I am saying short prayer, and times I forget. It is trying to remember to do so that I am struggling with.

Please pray for me that I will have the grace of perseverance to continue to pray and that I may be disposed to God and and HIs Will. Thanks.

God bless.

Think of it as viewing a beautiful sunset.