QUIET TIME TOOLBOX
The Art of a Quiet Spirit
Learning to be still in God's presence is a craft, an art-form that takes much practice and spiritual determination, but the rewards are well worth it!Mother Teresa once wrote:
Jesus is always waiting for us in silence. In this silence He listens to us; it is there that He speaks to our souls. And there, we hear His voice. . . In this silence we find a new energy and a real unity. . . There is unity of our thoughts with His thoughts, unity of our prayers with His prayers, unity of our actions with His actions, of our life with His life.
Spiritual Breathing
One of our biggest difficulties with silence is getting our bodies to slow down so that we can actually enjoy the quiet! Medical tests have shown that we can expedite this process by choosing to take deeper breaths and hold each one for a little longer than normal before we exhale. This is great for our bodies and for our souls as well. Spiritual breathing is an exercise that combines a focus on Christ with an emphasis on taking deep breaths. The result is a calmness of spirit and a deeper sense of readiness to meet with God.
Here is just one example -- feel free to add your own ideas as you breath in God's presence and breath out all that makes it difficult to be still before Him.
Inhale as you say -- Lord Jesus I receive your love.
Exhale as you say -- I release guilt and fear.
Inhale as you say -- Lord Jesus, I receive your truth.
Exhale as you say -- I release anxiety and distrust.
Inhale as you say -- Lord Jesus I receive your peace.
Exhale as you say -- I release tension and fretfulness.
Inhale as you say -- Lord Jesus, I receive your light.
Exhale as you say -- I release my sin and disobedience. (Taken from the book The Soul at Rest.)
Did you find yourself relaxing a little? You might follow this with an oral reading of a short psalm of praise. Keep practicing -- it will get easier!
