A Wish And A Prayer
Asians In New Zealand

Center Yourself In God

What does it look like then, when we respond in hope? I think the answer to this is that “a hopeful response is engaged with God and the world.” A person full of hope participates with life passionately. They join in with local activities and contributes to the care of creation. These are people who are loving people and loving God in concrete and real ways. 

Paul mentions in Romans chapter 8 that we are groaning with creation. We hope for the coming of God’s renewal of the world together with all of creation. Furthermore, Paul says that the Holy Spirit is there with us. Here is a practical way for us to “groan with the Spirit” or to affirm the Spirit’s ministry in our life. (See, Rom. 8:26). We can practice one Christian discipline, the practice of centering prayer.

Centering prayer is a form of contemplative prayer where the prayer seeks to quiet scattered thoughts and desires in the still center of Christ’s presence. (Adele A. Calhoun. 2015). We use Scripture and sometimes we visit a quiet place close to nature to direct our time of prayer and to help us meditate in God’s presence in our lives.

Here is where you can use your “holy imagination” as you pray. Think of a weakness you have and come to the presence of God the Father and surrender that weakness. Picture yourself sitting together with Jesus. Visualize your weakness in your hands and giving it to him. Remember the Holy Spirit is there praying with you.

Then, as you go through your day use Spirit-inspired imagination to center yourself in God. As you wash the dishes, walk to the grocery store, or sit at the desk at your workplace, think of the Spirit of God groaning in your behalf. Center your heart and pray with the Spirit. Give up all your weaknesses to our Father in heaven. Call out to him and say: Abba Father.

Center your heart so that you can see clearly. Even if there are no answers yet to your prayer. God’s nearness is enough. The Spirit is here with you. There is hope because he prays with you. There is hope because we are able to call God the Father, our very own Abba Father. 

(Read, Romans 8:12-30)

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