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Joseph Hain replied to the topic Centering Prayer. in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 4 months ago
The experience itself is incredible. I agree with what you said about tuning into God’s frequency. God’s frequency is powerful and peaceful.
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Joseph Hain started the topic Centering Prayer in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 4 months ago
My experience was incredible! I used the name “Jehovah Rohim” or “The Lord is My Shepherd”. I felt a sense of serenity wash over me gradually as the practice started. When I heard the sound of sheep in the video I was reminded of Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..”
Throughout the practice I felt more and more serene and…[Read more]
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Joseph Hain replied to the topic Breath Prayer in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 4 months ago
I found the experience to be quite powerful and relaxing(despite my experience being rather brief). I did find it interesting that our first and last breaths are a prayer.
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Joseph Hain started the topic Breath Prayer in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 4 months ago
My experience with breath prayer was a brief walk from my bedroom to my kitchen then back to my bedroom. During this walk I repeated the name “Adonai” mentally. The experience was a feeling of peace with some euphoria. In this brief moment I felt relaxed. Naturally I do plan to do this more often, if possible everyday. This I feel is quite…[Read more]
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Joseph Hain replied to the topic Welcoming Prayer in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 4 months ago
I agree that these practices take a lot of training. Mediative and contemplative methods are tedious(no matter how simple they are advertised) to do well. With enough practice and with the help of the Holy Spirit can become less hard. It pays off as you get better as you start to feel good physically, mentally, and spiritually.
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Joseph Hain started the topic Welcoming Prayer in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 4 months ago
My experience with the guided welcoming prayer was really good. I employed some methods of meditation(namely modified Therevada Buddhist method of Samatha or Calming) to really enhance the experience. I felt a sense of calm and tranquility as I surrendered myself to the Holy Spirit, if only for a moment. I do plan to employ this whenever I recite…[Read more]
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Joseph Hain replied to the topic Lectio Divina in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
Frances,
I did place myself in the position of one of Christ’s disciples. Unfortunately this was sometimes interrupted due to not being able to fully practice this in a quiet setting. I pictured myself asking Jesus what shall we do with the people as they had no food. -
Joseph Hain started the topic Lectio Divina in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
My experience of the Lectio Divina exercise was overall ok. During the second reading I did focus on the passage “I have compassion on the crowds”. I reflected on the compassion of Jesus and used this passage in the following prayer. I asked God to work in me to show compassion towards others like Jesus did to the crowd. It was a bit of a…[Read more]
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Joseph Hain replied to the topic How much have I considered the instruments I need in relation to knowing God. in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
Hi Frances, great response to the assignment. I do like what you said about scripture and how we are helped in bad times. I agree that fellowship does help
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Joseph Hain started the topic How equipped am I really to use these instruments to determine where I am right in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
How equipped am I really to use these instruments to determine where I am right now? To be completely honest, I think that there is always room for growth in order to be better equipped in determining my relationship with God. I think that all of us can be better equipped, especially in the aspect of prayer. I do wish I had more time in the day to…[Read more]
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Joseph Hain started the topic Spiritual Healing Tools in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
The Lord gives us tools to help us chart our relationship with God in the tumultuous ocean of our lives and be able to return safely to shore. Some tools he gives us are:
1. Meditation
2. Counseling
3. Wisdom from the Church Fathers
4. Contemplative prayerWhen I say meditation I refer to how it is practiced in Buddhism mainly but this can also…[Read more]
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Joseph Hain replied to the topic what do you hope to gain from this study in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
Jerry,
I hope you were able to learn more and better incorporate contemplative prayer into your life -
Joseph Hain replied to the topic what do you hope to gain from this study in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
Brandon,
I hope you were able to find the answers to your questions through this course. I personally do practice(or rather, increasingly attempt to) meditation. I have found it to be of great benefit but I do think my prayer life can always be improved -
Joseph Hain replied to the topic what do you hope to gain from this study in the forum Contemplative Prayer Forum 3 years, 6 months ago
I hope to gain a better prayer life through this course. I hope that through an improved prayer life that I an better discipline myself and grow closer to God through an improved prayer life. While this may sound rather generic, I do believe that when is able to improve their way of praying that they can have better control of themselves(ie…[Read more]
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