| A good friend of mine recently shared with me a Centering Prayer based on the acronym RAIN. Centering Prayer is similar to meditation where oneās focus is inward asking God to join in a personās reflections and inner journey. The focus is not on the outside but the inside that is most important. Frankly, I really like this prayer and have been using it over the last month. Give this a try – Sit quietly for a few moments. Focus on your breathing, slow it down if possible. Then ask God to help you: R: RecognizeāConsciously acknowledge your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A: AllowāAllow what you recognized to simply be there, without trying to fix or avoid it. I: InvestigateāAsk yourself, āWhat wants the most attention and how am I experiencing this?ā N: NurtureāRelease judgment, criticism, and shame. In a world of information overload, strife, and conflict, this method of prayer can be very helpful. If this method of prayer is new to you, try it a number of timesāthe key is to not get in a hurry and stay as long as needed.  This Week’s Readings: -Monday – 2 Corinthians 7 | 2 Corinthians 8 | 2 Corinthians 9 | 2 Corinthians 10 -Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 11 | 2 Corinthians 12 |2 Corinthians 13 -Wednesday- Matthew 1 | Matthew 2 | Matthew 3 | Matthew 4 -Thursday – Mathew 5 | Matthew 6 | Matthew 7 -Friday- Matthew 8 | Matthew 9 | Matthew 10 Please pray for: -An end to the Covid Crisis. -Our children as they cope with world issues. -All ministry events inside and outside the walls of St. Paul. -Families in crisis. -Loved ones battling illness. -Those seeking to find their way. -The St. Paul Church family. -The United Methodist Church family. -Our leaders, our country, and our world. |
| āDonāt worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.ā – Philippians 4:6 |