Centering Prayer?

~Anastasia~ said:

Monks who spend 20 hours a day in prayer and have done so for years are not immune to demonic attempts to deceive them - in fact they are probably the most frequent targets precisely because of their continual involvement in deeper forms of prayer.

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You're correct and that is usually the case for most. This is what I was alluding to in my comment about mystical experiences. There is a measure of vexation because of them.

It is a VERY legitimate Christian practice. But not one without danger. To the contrary, if it bears fruit it is one of the more dangerous practices. Anyone who begins to progress is always a more intense target.

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This is true. I have endured a lot of harassment because of my discernment. I've had demonic manifestations while praying or when I've uncovered something I couldn't possibly know and its spiritual roots. I've been told to shut up and mind my business on several occasions.

I didn't realize I was doing lectio at all. I spent the day in communion with the Lord. I was home full-time and didn't have work or familial responsibilities. I could immerse myself in His presence. And I prayed a lot. An awful lot and there was always a lot of warfare.

I learned the truth during a monastic weekend. I needed to answer the question about my calling and if it might include becoming a nun. I didn't believe that was the case but I wanted to be sure and I wasn't attending a Catholic church but I was reared in it as a child.

The vocation director addressed the subject and shared how the monks meditated on passages of scripture. The novitiate director was present along with two attendees. We were given a passage of scripture and encouraged to share what the Lord placed on our hearts after a period of silence.

I began to write. That's what I did at home. I was writing fast as the words came rushing in along with the scripture references. We shared our thoughts and both commented on what I wrote. It was in alignment with the bible.

Nevertheless, deception is a possibility and there have been instances when it was Satan talking not the Holy Spirit. He has tried to mislead me countless times. Both spiritually and naturally so. And it is more pronounced because of my experiences. It was significantly worse during my period of isolation when I had little contact with others. They were really bad.

I delight in my fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He is truly my Best Friend. And that's how I reference it. But it isn't all harps and lullabies. And I can't ignore the truth. It's difficult when you have something peering over your shoulder or whispering harsh words in your ear.

I have never encountered someone who had supernatural experiences on a continual basis who didn't encounter the demonic. Never. Ever.

I have a hard time understanding why people fear silence. It is part of who we are, the core of our being. Words help get us there since our minds are daily preoccupied with all our responsibilities and activities. But our souls go deeper.
I am reminded:
Hebrews 4:12-16
"The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts. No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves."

The word of God accompanies us on the inner journey. The Word of God is a person, not just a sound or a thought.

Have you never sat in perfect stillness watching the beauty of a sunset or listened to the rain? why fear the truth of our own being beneath the emotions and thoughts?

Centerin Prayer helps take us to our center where the Word fo God dwells. Come, let us visit with Him.

I can recognize a lot in what you've posted.

LaBèlla said:

You're correct and that is usually the case for most. This is what I was alluding to in my comment about mystical experiences. There is a measure of vexation because of them.



This is true. I have endured a lot of harassment because of my discernment. I've had demonic manifestations while praying or when I've uncovered something I couldn't possibly know and its spiritual roots. I've been told to shut up and mind my business on several occasions.

I didn't realize I was doing lectio at all. I spent the day in communion with the Lord. I was home full-time and didn't have work or familial responsibilities. I could immerse myself in His presence. And I prayed a lot. An awful lot and there was always a lot of warfare.

I learned the truth during a monastic weekend. I needed to answer the question about my calling and if it might include becoming a nun. I didn't believe that was the case but I wanted to be sure and I wasn't attending a Catholic church but I was reared in it as a child.

The vocation director addressed the subject and shared how the monks meditated on passages of scripture. The novitiate director was present along with two attendees. We were given a passage of scripture and encouraged to share what the Lord placed on our hearts after a period of silence.

I began to write. That's what I did at home. I was writing fast as the words came rushing in along with the scripture references. We shared our thoughts and both commented on what I wrote. It was in alignment with the bible.

Nevertheless, deception is a possibility and there have been instances when it was Satan talking not the Holy Spirit. He has tried to mislead me countless times. Both spiritually and naturally so. And it is more pronounced because of my experiences. It was significantly worse during my period of isolation when I had little contact with others. They were really bad.

I delight in my fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He is truly my Best Friend. And that's how I reference it. But it isn't all harps and lullabies. And I can't ignore the truth. It's difficult when you have something peering over your shoulder or whispering harsh words in your ear.

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For the most part, it isn't something I go into detail about unless there's a need, and then usually privately. I've gone through times in my life since childhood when I didn't even know I was praying, really, when prayer has been a big part of my life. Lots of times I've been put away into circumstances that freed me up more than most people have opportunity. Maybe God knew I needed more than some other folks. I didn't have the help of a background in a tradition that would have put it all in some context at least for me though. My family was mostly a-religious (just not, though they would have said Christian if asked). I had a praying great-grandmother though that I spent a lot of time with.

I have never encountered someone who had supernatural experiences on a continual basis who didn't encounter the demonic. Never. Ever.

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This is the part I wanted to comment on. I've met a few (very few) folks who claim this. I don't know if God protects them, if they didn't really have the experiences they claimed to have, or if they didn't recognize the demonic when it showed up. Not my place to know or judge. But for pretty much all of Christian history, that's the way we see it happening. Especially for those who really separate themselves unto God. I think it's wisdom that such a real separation for long periods is not generally encouraged or allowed except for those who have already had a lifetime of experience with warfare.

~Anastasia~ said:

I can recognize a lot in what you've posted.

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I loved your response.

As humans, we gravitate to things that validate our desires and beliefs. We have an uncanny way of convincing ourselves of this and that and more spin than a political candidate. Watching the mind at work is a fascinating sight.

I remember watching Looney Tunes as a child. I was always baffled by Wile E. Coyote. Sometimes his ideas were pretty nifty but he never learned from his mistakes. His certainty of success never wavered. I've got to give him that.

And there were moments I wanted to yell stop. Don't. Turn back. Because I knew the cliff was coming. I knew he'd land on his face again.

But would he listen? Probably not. We're a lot like him at times. Our knowing blinds us to our ignorance and we suffer because of it.

LaBèlla said:

I loved your response.

As humans, we gravitate to things that validate our desires and beliefs. We have an uncanny way of convincing ourselves of this and that and more spin than a political candidate. Watching the mind at work is a fascinating sight.

I remember watching Looney Tunes as a child. I was always baffled by Wile E. Coyote. Sometimes his ideas were pretty nifty but he never learned from his mistakes. His certainty of success never wavered. I've got to give him that.

And there were moments I wanted to yell stop. Don't. Turn back. Because I knew the cliff was coming. I knew he'd land on his face again.

But would he listen? Probably not. We're a lot like him at times. Our knowing blinds us to our ignorance and we suffer because of it.

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I think it's kind of like a very tiny thing going up giant stair steps. Once we reach a certain point we can look back and see more clearly. But as for what's ahead, we often can't even understand the warnings even if we get them.

Thankfully God is in control. That's saved me more than once, not that He didn't let me get severe bruises along the way. Even those perhaps serve as reminders and warnings and in other ways for my own good.

Yes, His grace saves us from our folly.

I Don't think Centering Prayer makes anyone more vulnerable to satanic attack than anything else. In fact, St John of the Cross tells us that it is through our thinking and imagination that Satan attacks us. Not our inner silence and peace.

What is called the 'prayer of quiet' is a natural progression to those whose prayer life is ongoing. Any kind of prayer can lead to this. The Rosary for instances. Many say the Rosary over and over again, much of the time, they are in quiet before God, the beads and prayers a help to keep the mind occupied. If one does have some form of mental illness, quiet prayer can be very helpful in ones walk with the Lord. However it needs to be developed, not forced.

Peace
Mark

I think also that some are called to it and some not or perhaps it is a metter of timing. Some great people simply can not sit quietly while others can't live without it.

For some it is difficult and for others a necessity. We have different paths.

I agree with exercising discernment. It may not be for everyone as others have said. I think the models of prayer in the Bible are the best guides. The dangers in regard to centring prayer are probably with it taking the place of other forms of prayer. I tend to think prayer should be something in which we exalt God recognise his greatness and goodness, his graciousness, and recognise our own creatureliness. At least I think its good to begin with something like that, or reading a Psalm.

I think CS Lewis's suggestion of the prayer preceding all prayers is very good:

"May it be the real I who prays, may it be the real Thou, I pray to."

There is silence in prayer, and then there is silence in prayer where the supernatural shows up. The first is really cool, the second is a place when in if I sense it coming, I generally try to run from it... but sometimes, well, if you've walked the path, you understand. If you haven't, this will appear nonsense.

I remember inquirying of a Catholic priest / trained exorcist on this, and his statement to the tune of when do you think it would be most advantageous for the demonic to show up really hit home. He was careful not to discourage, but also to be prudent, the full armor of God.

Akita Suggagaki said:

I have a hard time understanding why people fear silence. It is part of who we are, the core of our being. Words help get us there since our minds are daily preoccupied with all our responsibilities and activities. But our souls go deeper.

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That reminds me of what Dr. Daniel Siegel writes about in his book, Mindsight.

https://www.amazon.com/Mindsight-Ne...gel+mindsight&qid=1556829712&s=gateway&sr=8-1

A therapist had me read it years ago, as she integrated that into her approach. Of course I was already familiar with meditation, having studied it years before with a small group, but it encouraged me to keep up the practice at the time.

I've known other people with autism that found mindfulness meditation extremely helpful at learning to regulate their emotions and increase their self-awareness, which is important for being able to recognize emotions in other people as well.

Maybe words like "watchfulness" and "vigilance" would be more appealing to traditional Christians.

Akita Suggagaki said:

Maybe words like "watchfulness" and "vigilance" would be more appealing to traditional Christians.

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Yeah, in eastern Christian mysticism they use those terms for the same concept, more or less.