10/04/2024
This is from a dope book I’m reading called Praying Like Monks and living like fools. 👇🏾👇🏾
Practice BE STILL
Many confused stillness with waiting for revelation. Sometimes revelation does come and it’s marvelous but that is not the purpose of stillness.
The purpose is consent. It is the daily practice of consenting to the work of Gods spirit, which is deeper than understanding or words. It is how deep calls to deep from our souls to his.
Pick a consistent time. For you this may be the final moments before rushing off on your morning commute, the sudden silence right after dropping off the kids at school, or the daily office lunch break, it could be the very first thing you do in the morning or the last thing you do before your head hits the pillow.
When doesn’t matter. So long as the when is consistent. Cause there’s no such thing as a habit or priority that doesn’t happen consistently.
Create a ritual. Choose an ordinary place to become sacred. Ordinary holy ground. This could be your favorite chair,the back Porch step,the upstairs balcony, or the window seat in the city bus.
Sit up straight with your two feet planted firmly on the ground, lay your hands in your lap, palms open facing up,close your eyes. Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly 3 times.
Pray something simple and invitational. Traditionally this is called a breath prayer and sounds like Hear I am Lord or Come Holy Spirit or Lord have mercy. Then be quiet. Be still , wait.
I suggest setting a timer. A chime on your device or old fashion stop watch. When you set a timer it keeps you from needing to open your eyes.
Start with 2 minutes. Do this everyday. Just 2 minutes of silence. After a month
Bump it up to 4 and then a month later to 6. Keep this going til you get to 10 minutes. Resist the urge to decide if this practice of silent prayer is working. Don’t evaluate if you’re getting anything out of it. Simply trust that a couple century worth of saints and the practice of Jesus himself might have a place on your life too. Practice silence as a sacrificial offering to God. It’s that simple. It’s about giving something of yourself to God.
Not getting something from God.
One day you’ll look up. Discovering some where along the way. Silent prayer became a life line and essential. Give God the first word and let spoken prayer follow as a response.
