Contemplatives

Loving God Through Adoration

Description

“Contemplatives refer to God as their lover, and images of a loving Father and Bridegroom predominate their view of God. …The focus is not necessarily on serving God, doing His will, accomplishing great things in His name, or even obeying God. Rather, these Christians seek to love God with the purest, deepest, and brightest love imaginable.”

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Suggested Activities

  • •Make use of the Jesus prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner") or another short prayer — to practice the presence of God, reminding yourself that Jesus is Lord, you are a sinner, you need His mercy.
  • •Practice secret acts of devotion – something you do for someone else without letting anyone else know about it.
  • •Carry a pocket piece – something tactile to remind you Who you serve, such as a small cross.
  • •Dancing Prayer – allowing God to lead and follow Him wherever He takes you; let Him speak and place requests before you.
  • •Centering Prayer – choose a word and focus on it (Jesus, God, peace…) repeating it until it becomes a part of you. This is a way to close oneself in with God, away from distractions — resting in His presence.
  • •Prayer of the Heart – focuses on emotional attachment to, or adoration of, God. Its aim is to love God, to have our hearts enlarged so that God owns more and more of us.
  • •Meditative Prayer – prayerful reflection of a biblical text or theme using what you can see, taste, touch, hear, or smell (Lectio Divina; placing yourself in the passage).
Contemplative prayer

Scriptures to Reflect On

Reflection Questions

  1. 1.When do you feel most loved by God? In what tangible ways does He show His love to you?
  2. 2.What is most important to you in your relationship with God?
  3. 3.Do you ever lose the sense of God's presence? What happens to you then — in your emotions? In your spirit? What do you do to restore that sense?
  4. 4.What is your favorite way to picture God? Are there any images of God that you find difficult to contemplate? Why do you think that is? Ask God to show you something about that.
  5. 5.What words come to mind when you think of God? Make a list of all the words and phrases you can think of to express your praise to Him.
  6. 6.How do you usually approach God? Do you ever feel fear? What might that be about? Talk with the Father about it and write down His response.
  7. 7.In what ways is it difficult for you to share your experiences with God with other people?

Well Known Contemplatives

Mary of Bethany

Mary of Bethany

Biblical model of sitting at Jesus' feet

St. Teresa of Ávila

St. Teresa of Ávila

Spanish mystic & Doctor of the Church

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas

Philosopher, theologian & Doctor of the Church

Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo

Bishop, theologian & Church Father

King David

King David

Psalmist & King of Israel

Dr. James Houston

Dr. James Houston

Professor at Regent College, Vancouver

Resources

  • Butler, Dom Cuthbert (1922). Western Mysticism: The Teaching of Augustine, Gregory and Bernard on Contemplation and the Contemplative Life. London: Constable.
  • Curtis, Brent and John Eldredge (1997). The Sacred Romance. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
  • Merton, Thomas. Contemplative Prayer. Bantam Dell Pub Group. ISBN: 0385092199.
  • Merton, Thomas (1973). Contemplation in a World of Action. Garden City, NY: Image Books.
  • Montaldo, Jonathan, Thomas Merton. Dialogues With Silence: Prayers & Drawings. (2001). Harpercollins. ISBN: 0060656026.
  • Pennington, M. Basil (1977). Daily We Touch Him. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.
  • Thomas, Gary (1999). Seeking the Face of God. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
  • Underhill, Evelyn (1936). Worship. New York: Harper and Row.
  • Winkler, Dr. Gabriele (1978). Prayer Attitude in the Eastern Church. Minneapolis: Life and Life.

Sources