Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision “Contemplative prayer is simply a receptive form of prayer in which we open ourselves to God in stillness and silence.”  It is a time of being with God and just allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to move in our lives. This means we need to make space…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God As we truly open ourselves to God it has a great potential for transforming our inner life and bringing new freedom to us.  When we are still before God we often find that He reorganizes our inner landscape in ways that we can not imagine. Sometimes…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God Haven’t we all longed for a relationship with God that would be a part of our experience throughout the day regardless of what we are doing? Regardless of whether or not we happened to be thinking of Him  praying,or doing something else.  Jesus calls us friends…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God There is a prayer beyond doing and it is prayer of BEING. This is a prayer of simply being with God. It is an experiential knowing and resting in His presence. Usually this is called contemplative prayer and it is a way of opening our selves…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God Prayer is always personal and it is an expression of our heart and mind that is open to God in trust.  Most of us pray worded prayers and that is a good beginning point. The words we use will usually fit somewhere in the categories of…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God In prayer we bring the mind and the heart to God in openness.  Mary, the mother of Jesus did this when she was told by the angel she was going to bear the Christ child. She received the news with her heart at first and then…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God Often we think of prayer only as talking to God. But “ Pondering prayer is talking with God about our thoughts, our wonderings, and our reflections on life experiences or challenges.”  When we ponder something we hold it lightly and give it space. We ruminate on…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God “We can only truly see the things of God through the eyes of faith, and the eyes of faith are the eyes of God.”  The author gives 4 suggestions for cultivating prayerful attentiveness. I know I so often pray that I will be more attentive to…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God Attention is the best preparation for prayer. This is not the same as concentration but of prayerful openness. We need to pay attention to that which is within us and beyond us in the present moment. That means being open and receptive to the sacred. As…

Devotions based on David Benner’s book, Opening to God “We do not pray so we can get God’s attention. We pray so that God will get our attention.”  How important it is to be attentive to God so that His love will be a reality in our lives. Sometimes we may feel like God is…