Saturday, March 22, 2014

Breathing in God's stillness

The prayer “Breathing in God’s stillness” has helped me in many life situations and I would like to share the most recent one with you:

I don’t use my checkbook often but occasionally I do need to write a check, so I keep it in my purse just in case. Last Monday, I needed to pay my yoga teacher for the next five weeks of yoga and I realized that it wasnt there. I didn't panic because I was pretty sure I had left it at home. However, I couldnt find it that night and it remained missing over the course of the next few days. I still didn’t panic because no money had been taken out of my account. When I went to the bank to get some new checks, I learned that it would cost $30 to cancel the old ones. The bank employee advised me to look a few more days before doing the cancellation.

I was still confident they were not stolen, so I decided to follow his advice. I tried to think systematically where I could have put them and realized that I hadn’t seen them since my trip to Germany two weeks before. So I went into the storage area and made sure I hadn't left it in my suitcase. Then I looked in all the places I had looked before... I even turned the paper recycling upside down to make sure it hadn’t fallen into the recycling bin. Now I started to panic! And then I realized that I hadn’t done the one thing yet: Pray!

I sat down and breathed in God’s stillness for a few minutes, becoming aware of the presence of God with me at all times.  And then I said, “God, you know where my checkbook is; please guide me to it.” (Actually, I was not as polite as I make myself look now. I was annoyed at that time and fearful and demanded: God, guide me to the checkbook right now!) 

Immediately I knew where it was without thinking about it!!! 

I had taken the checkbook out of my purse in Germany because I didn't need the checks.  To keep it safe, I had put it into the side pocket of the computer bag I wasnt carrying with me regularly.
Im still amazed when prayer is answered this way. Here is why I found it so easily: I didn't rely on my thoughts of where it could be! I asked for guidance and help!
My thoughts had taken me to all the places I “thought” the checkbook could be but my thoughts (my will) are not always connected with the knowledge of the Universe. I had to come to the point of asking for God’s help (Thy Will) and that made it possible for me to get out of the way and let God guide me to it. The Breath Prayer "Be Still" helped me to calm down enough to listen to the knowledge within me.
How does it work? I am not exactly sure but I know that if I pray and meditate in my life and am aware of God's presence within me, I don't have to know. It just works!

Why does it take many of us so long to connect with the power of prayer? Why is it the last thing so many of us think about? 


6 comments:

  1. You are absolutely right Bettina! Stopping to pray and ask for guidance in even the little things is all about the Daily presence of God are our Guardian Angels to help us along our path. Blessings, Liz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Liz. God's presence is always available to us and we are so often not aware of it!

      Delete
  2. Staying present requires constant practice. I love your personal stories, because I recognize myself in them. Thank you for sharing your insights. Looking forward to future posts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Naomi. And yes, we are not used to staying present and we need to practice it. I hope my prayers and posts will help!

      Delete
  3. Hi Bettina - I just had to share this with you, this winter I have spent much of my time learning deep meditation and getting in touch more with my spiritual side, the one question I asked myself as many of us do is what is my purpose in this life. Meditation and prayer brought the answer that I am to make people happy, I have to tell you I did laugh at this one you know me and I am not the type to go around and put my hand on someones shoulder and say be Happy. So for many nights I kept asking how is it I am to make people happy. And then one night in a dream it came to me "what makes people happy" I have always loved to cook and I have always wanted to write". I do believe that is my answer to cook for others and to write so other can read those are two things that truly do make people happy. Look forward to seeing you this summer Debby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am looking forward to seeing you too, Debby. Thank you for sharing. Do you know the Frederick Buechner quote "God wants us where our deep joy meets the deep need of the world?" It looks like you have found it!

      Delete