J. David Muyskens

Finding Your Breath

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 15:04:34 GMT

Do you find yourself out of breath these days? Are you feeling anxious or unsettled? Or do you simply long for a more grounding awareness of God's presence in your ordinary days? The practices of Lectio Divina (sacred reading) and Centering Prayer are designed to calm our busy minds and bodies and focus our attention on the presence of God.

Centering Prayer is a way of praying developed in the 1970s by Trappist monks William Meninger, M. Basil Pennington, and Thomas Keating. This more contemporary version of Centering Prayer was adapted from the prayer practices of the desert mothers and fathers, described in The Cloud of Unknowing and in the writings of Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and other Christian mystics. The practice invites us to slow our minds and to focus our attention on the loving presence of God.

Lectio Divina, or sacred reading, is a particular way of encountering God in scripture that is different from a more studious approach. Rather than the text being an object of the mind seeking understanding, in Lectio Divina the text is an icon of God that acts upon the heart. The intent is a transforming experience of the presence of God.

These practices are rich and spiritually rewarding, but engaging in a regular practice of any kind can be a challenge. In our eCourse, we'll use the daily readings from J. David Muyskens's Sacred Breath: Forty Days of Centering Prayer and encouragement from a community of people practicing together to inspire one another to engage in regular practice. Each day's practice includes a devotional reading, 20 minutes of Centering Prayer, and a guided Lectio Divina exercise. Seasoned practitioners of Centering Prayer are invited to engage in the full practices, about 45 minutes per day. Those new to the practice are invited to try it a small step at a time and work toward the full practice. Live sessions and the eCourse offer encouragement to grow into the practice free from pressure to do it all.

Finding Your Breath includes:

All essential content from J. David Muyskens's Sacred Breath: Forty Days of Centering Prayer.
Video instruction in Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina.
40 days of guided prayer practices, including daily exercises in devotional reading, Centering Prayer, and Lectio Divina.

Join the eCourse alone or with a group. Group rates (for groups of 5 or more) are available. Private breakout rooms for live sessions and private eCourse classrooms are available. For information on group access, email UReLearning@UpperRoom.org.

Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God

Sat, 14 May 2022 02:23:54 GMT

It's been said that Centering Prayer is like two friends sitting together in silence, just being in each other's presence—completely natural and comfortable. Yet, Centering Prayer is sometimes viewed as too mysterious, too escapist, too hard. At first, it even appeared that way to the author, but events in his life and his further studies about prayer changed his views.

Through Muyskens' insightful guidance, you'll explore a method of prayer that goes deeper than verbal conversations with God. This book teaches:

silent communion with God
a method of being open to the gift of God's presence
a way of receiving a deep ad intimate relationship with God

Each day's reading has a focal scripture verse and the author's reflection, ending with simple suggestions for contemplative prayer. You'll begin with as few as 5 minutes of Centering Prayer. By following the guidance in this book for 40 days, you will be led to a closer relationship with God.

As you progress through the daily scripture and meditative readings in Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God, you'll find greater understanding and fresh awareness of Jesus' promise, "I am with you always."

Sacred Breath

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:26:11 GMT

When life takes an unexpected turn that leaves you reeling, sometimes you have to remind yourself to just breathe. But God is closer than the air you breathe. Grounded in scripture and Christian tradition, Sacred Breath walks you through the practice of Centering Prayer and helps you breathe in deeply the presence of God.

Learn how to present yourself to God in silence twice a day without any agenda. Forty days of practical, encouraging meditations will help you get started in the rich experience of living in the awareness of God's love. The first 10 readings focus on receiving God's love, the second 10 on obstacles to our relationship with God, and the last 20 on the rhythm of receiving and giving in our walk with God. Sacred Breath includes scriptures, breathing exercises, and an outline for group meetings.

For an introduction to Centering Prayer, try Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God, also by J. David Muyskens.

Sacred Breath

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:48:30 GMT

For an introduction to Centering Prayer, try Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God, also by J. David Muyskens.

Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:32:45 GMT

Through Muyskens' insightful guidance, you'll explore a method of prayer that goes deeper than verbal conversations with God. This book teaches:

silent communion with God
a method of being open to the gift of God's presence
a way of receiving a deep ad intimate relationship with God