If I were to explain what practices I do daily to keep me connected to God, I’d say the most foundational one is putting myself imaginally in His presence. This can be called “grounding prayer”, centering prayer or as I like to think about it simply: The Gaze.
God is constantly looking at you with a gaze of love and you are invited to receive that gaze and absorb as much of that love as you can. Numbers 6:25: “God makes his face shine upon you and is gracious to you”.
There are many ways to connect with God’s love. We are all different and receive God’s love in different ways. Be a student of yourself and find what works for you. For many, nature or beauty are sources: remember a beautiful scene and experience God's love. Is there a worship song that helps you get in touch with God’s love,? A scripture? Or remembering a time you felt overwhelmed by His love? Does it happen for you on a walk or run or bike ride? All of those ways can be prayer and a way to enter into connection. Some can actually imagine a setting where a member of the Trinity is with them and they can directly imagine God looking at them with love.
I am actually one of the lucky ones who has had experiential encounters with God in my imagination. In Phil 1:18 Paul prays that “the eyes of our heart” would be opened. Imagination in the hands of the Holy Spirit can be a powerful portal to intimacy with God. I would invite you to be open to how God might meet you in your imagination.
I have a few favorite places I like to go with God. My favorite now is to go to a beautiful wildflower meadow. (I often do this in the cozyness of my bed before other parts of life invade)
First, in my imagination, I lay down and mentally gather myself in. Even in a short period of being awake, my mind has gone to what the day holds and issues on my mind and heart, not to God. Once I am “gathered in”, I relax in the meadow, admiring the diversity and beauty of it. Jesus comes and sits and as we look at each other I realize a change in myself (The meadow is some kind of bog I’m thinking, and being in the presence of God’s love and beauty refills me.) I realize as I enjoy just being there that I am different. Parts of me that were dry or anxious or urgent have been refilled or erased. I have gathered in, firmed up and I am feeling peace and joy. I am ready for the day.
This reminds me of a wonderful story spiritual director Marjorie Thompson tells about the conversation between an eighteenth century priest and an elderly peasant who would sit alone for hours in the quiet of the church When the priest asked what he was doing, the old man simply replied, “I look at Him, He looks at me, and we are happy”. John Mark Colmer also relates this story and expands on it in his book Practicing the Way. It's a great read.
Do you want to try it? Let me know! I’d be happy to walk you through the process.
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