With aging came Medicare, Social Security, orthotics, bifocals, and more. But the best thing that happened was discovering two types of prayer that were previously unfamiliar to me—Centering Prayer and the Active Prayer. I’ve now practiced both for 10-15 years and believe they are changing me in two profound ways:
1. I feel much closer to my God, and my faith is more alive.
2. I am becoming more emotionally mature and self-aware—though still very much a work in progress.
I’ve previously summarized my experience with Centering Prayer. Today I will address the topic of the Active Prayer, which I have called Praying-in-the-Moment.
While developing my website, I did considerable research about mindfulness, meditation, prayer, and stress. I learned of a prayer practice that sounded to me like a God-centered form of mindfulness. Thomas Keating called it the Active Prayer and described the simple process of choosing a short prayer phrase of 6-12 syllables to use as your prayer and say it often enough so the prayer can “work itself into your subconscious.”
I chose “My Lord and My God” as my prayer.
At first I used yellow sticky notes and other reminders to prompt me to say the prayer throughout the day. My intention was say this prayer whenever I started to get stressed, irritated, judgmental, anxious, or prideful. Keating describes how using the prayer words can interrupt this kind of negative thinking. He writes:
“The saying of the syllables is synchronized with one’s heartbeat…The great advantage of this practice is that it eventually becomes a “tape” similar to the “tapes” that accompany one’s upsetting emotions. When this occurs, the aspiration has the remarkable effect of erasing the old tapes, thus providing a neutral zone in which common sense or the Spirit of God can suggest what should be done.”
My personal experience with praying-in-the-moment was dramatic. In the beginning, I usually remembered to say my prayer words only after I had become upset. Gradually, however, I began remembering earlier during an emotional disturbance. I added more reminders and kept trying.
Then something remarkable happened. After about six to eight weeks, the words “My Lord and My God” began to pop automatically into my head during those “stressed, irritated, judgmental or anxious” moments. The prayer alerted me I was starting down a negative and unhealthy path —and reminded me to change direction..
“My Lord and My God” served as an
“Interceptor Prayer”
that stopped my negative or even sinful thoughts and
turned them to God.
I am very grateful to have this interceptor prayer which reduces my stress and often calms me before I say the wrong thing or get drawn deeply into unhealthy thoughts.
Praying in the moment also helps me to be grateful for all the goodness and beauty in my life. When I become aware of something beautiful—a rose, the moon, a puppy—or when I am touched by someone’s kindness, the prayer often comes to mind. It reminds me to thank God for the love and beauty that surround me.
Dozens of times each day I say “My Lord and My God.” Sometimes I say it intentionally, but more often it arises spontaneously as an “interceptor prayer.” I believe this prayer practice is a miraculous gift from our loving God—one that draws me closer to him and to helps me grow in emotionally maturity.
St. Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17, once sounded impossible. But I now see how praying-in-the moment throughout the day can help us move closer to that goal—no matter how busy we are.
Prayerfully consider trying this prayer practice. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.
SUGGESTIONS:
1. Consider watching this 10-minute video in which Thomas Keating reviews the Active Prayer. He cautions against using the practice in ways that suppresses our feelings and prevent us from understanding their roots.
2. The Jesus Prayer is another beautiful way of praying throughout the day.
3. You might enjoy this light-hearted blog I wrote about Praying in the Moment.
OK, folks. Let me wish you a holy Lent and blessed Easter.
God bless,
Donna
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Dr. Donna Chacko promotes health of body, mind, and spirit through her website (serenityandhealth.com), her blog, her podcast/vlog series, “Engaging with a Messy World” and " “Pop-Up Conversations on Health of Mind, Body, and Spirit,” and programs at her church. She is the author of Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey (Luminare Press, 2021), 2022 Illumination Awards Gold Medal Winner, 2022 Reader Views Literary Award Gold Medal Winner, and 2022 Catholic Media Association First Place Awards.
Learn about the “Interceptor Prayer” and Praying-in-the-Moment to help you draw closer to God and become more emotionally mature.