Introduction
Before we begin our time together in prayer and meditation, I would like to make a few suggestions to aid concentration:
1. Find a place of relative peace and quiet where you may remain undisturbed by the distracting sounds of telephones, television sets, and conversation.
2. Settle yourself into a comfortable position on a cushioned chair, with feet flat on the floor, and palms turned upwards on your lap, if at all possible.
3. Close your eyes and relax.
Now join me as we invite Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to bless our time together, and to take full control of all that is said, heard, felt, and done.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, we give you all praise, honour and glory for your work of redemption on the cross. Cleanse us from all sin, and fill us to overflowing with your Holy Spirit. Prepare us to enter the throne room of the Most High God, at whose right hand you sit, and prepare our hearts to discover your Holy Presence within. May we become more like you, with each breath that we take, in the name of the Holy Trinity, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Amen
Exercise # 1: A Simple Breathing Exercise
This is a simple breathing exercise to relax the body, focus the mind, and enable the spirit to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
1. First become aware of the rhythm of your normal breath flow. Try not to alter the pace for the next ten seconds. Recognize the work that takes place as a reflex action both day and night. During the next ten seconds thank God for the wonder of who you are.
2. Now take a deep breath, gently holding the breath for as long as is comfortable, exhaling when ready. As you do this several times, reflect on the cleansing and nourishing aspects of oxygen which flows through your bloodstream to every cell of your body. Note the release of carbon dioxide with each exhalation to remove certain impurities from the system.
3. As you continue to control your breathing, imagine that as you breathe in, you are being filled with the very breath of God, just as God breathed into Adam in the Genesis account of creation, and as God also breathed into the dead bodies in the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel’s vision in Ezekiel 37).
4. Reflect on the words of the hymn:
Breathe on me, Breath of God
Fill me with life anew
That I may will what thou dost will
And do what thou would’st do.
Now be open to God’s presence in the silence for at least sixty seconds, or as long as you like.
5. As you return to a more natural breathing rhythm, allow yourself to notice that the quieter steady flow is like your spirit praying on your behalf without your mind having to dictate. While you breathe you can pray. May the words of St. Paul, “pray without ceasing”, become your secret joy as you journey with the Lord.
Exercise # 2 Breathing and the Emotions
Our second exercise also uses the breath but this time we will focus on your inner feelings. What is your strongest feeling at the moment? You may have mixed feelings such as anger and sadness, or fear and anxiety, or joy and sadness, depending on the circumstances.
1. As you exhale, release one of those feelings to God and pray to be filled with the quality of Christ, or the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which corresponds. For example, you may be feeling frightened, and need to be filled with God’s peace, or feeling unloved and need to be filled with a sense of God’s overwhelming love for you.
2. Guilt and shame may be released as a form of sincere confession, as you acknowledge the situation before God. Then, you accept God’s forgiveness and empowering to help you to resist the temptation, or you may be given the gift of discernment to seek pastoral counseling or spiritual direction.
3. Give God thanks as your burdens are lifted.
