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“Be still and know that I AM God!” (Psalm 46:10)

Psalm 46:10 can be a simple way to experience contemplative prayer, an ancient form of prayer that is making a comeback in faith communities. When we consider the numerous “secular” meditation and mindfulness groups that have sprung up in recent years, the practice of contemplative prayer may be a simple way to bond with neighbors who may not be connected to a faith community but, like us, hunger for authenticity and human connection.

It’s badly needed. Our society struggles against making idols of anxiety, competition and comparisons.

According to researcher Dr. Fred Lustkin, director of the Stanford (University) Forgiveness Projects, a human has about 60,000 thoughts a day, 90 percent of which are repetitive. For many people, most of these repetitive thoughts are negative. Prayer is one of the many practices Luskin has studied that people use successfully to bring about positive change.

This message is excerpted from “In the stillness” by Betty E. Landis in the July/August 2018 Gather magazine.