"Meditation – 60 Days of Prayer for Friday, 24 June 2016 from The Upper Room in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

"Meditation – 60 Days of Prayer for Friday, 24 June 2016 from The Upper Room in Nashville, Tennessee, United States

JUNE 24
Each Friday, The Upper Room offers a prayer practice for our 60 Days of Prayer community. This week, we share Roger Owens’ advice about befriending silence:
“In silence we are present with God, who is the very heart of our heart, present with us, loving us from the inside out. We can try to define what we do and what God does in the silence, and how it relates. But I prefer pictures. This morning, my five-year-old daughter gave me a picture. I was praying, practicing my silence, and she awakened earlier than usual. Almost silently, she scooted on her bottom down the stairs and walked over to where I was sitting. I lifted her into my lap, where she curled up, putting her head against my chest. She didn’t ask for anything or say anything. She just laid her head on my chest where, I imagine, she could hear my heartbeat. I thought of the beloved disciple in John’s gospel at the Last Supper, “leaning on Jesus’ bosom,” as the King James Version translates it. ” (John 13:23)
That’s what we do in silence–lean against God’s breast, listening to the heartbeat of love.”
As you begin to practice silence, remember these aspects:

• Don’t worry about doing it right. There are several approaches; the key is to try one and stick with it. Be gentle on yourself when you get distracted.
• Don’t judge your thoughts. Instead, simply let go of the thoughts by returning your attention to prayer.
• Don’t neglect a “where” and “when.” If you are going to practice silence resting in God, you need to have a clearly designated time and place.

Try this: Write a list titled, “My Life Conditions that Prevent Silence.” What on the list seems easiest to change?
Roger Owens is associate professor of leadership and ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and an elder in The United Methodist Church. Roger served as co-pastor with his wife, Ginger Thomas, for eight years before becoming a professor. This excerpt is from his latest book, What We Need is Here: Practicing the Heart of Christian Spirituality. © 2015 L. Roger Owens. All rights reserved. Used by permission from Upper Room Books.

Learn more about this book.
Did you visit the Discipleship Ministries table exhibit while at your annual conference? If so, perhaps you saw a series of resource booklets created for you and your congregation, including a few provided by The Upper Room.

These booklets can be viewed and downloaded free at this website.

Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007

Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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