In the last few months, I have learned a new prayer. It was first introduced to me by Rev. Ashley Pickerel Thomas last March. It immediately captured me, and I listened to her pray it, as I prayed along, many times over.
The prayer is "The Welcoming Prayer" by Father Thomas Keating. Father Keating was an American Catholic Monk who died in 2018. He was one of the primary founders of "centering prayer," a type of prayer that includes much silence over several minutes as one listens for God to speak. I have enjoyed participating with others in this method of meditation as I always finish feeling very relaxed and more confident of God's never-ending love of me.
The prayer returned to me this month, when Emily P. Freeman prayed it during one of her weekly podcasts. It renewed my spirit again. When something keeps returning to me, I know I must pay attention.
I invite you to pray the prayer below (or listen to Ashley or Emily pray it with you). I will be praying it too in the days to come. As we continue to start a new year and experience changes in our lives, I pray these words might bring us solace as we follow Christ. May we welcome God into our lives in 2021. Amen.
The Welcoming Prayer
Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know it's for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions. I let go of my desire for power and control. I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval and pleasure. I let go of my desire for survival and security. I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person or myself. I open to the love and presence of God and God's action within. Amen.
