The Welcoming Prayer
The Welcoming Prayer (by Father Thomas Keating)
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.
Some thoughts on the “Welcoming Prayer”
The “Welcoming Prayer” can be done in a moment, in a breath. It is about “Letting Go.” When we welcome “what is” in our life, it doesn’t mean that we don’t want or need change or growth. It means that we accept what comes our way and invite God into it. In His presence we bring to Him our needs, our desires, our thoughts, our emotions, and our circumstances. Instead of fighting these things and those around us, we welcome them and God in them so that WE can be transformed as we consent to His presence in all areas of our lives. To fight against our reality, to demand and to grasp onto our desires, is one way of denying that God alone is our Source of Life, that God is our Source for Love and Power.
When we “cling” to our needs and our desires or demands that “what is” be different we are attempting to control. When we “let go” and meet God in our reality, then we actually do become free and experience His presence – which does heal, provide our needs, transform us…..
If we grasp and control our lives we will inevitably create “substitutes” for a genuine resting in God and His provision. What are your substitutes?
Christ in you, the hope of Glory: The path of mystery, which is the Christian life, is one where we experience God within, defenseless, open, consenting to His presence in everything that comes our way. This is the true self that knows experientially that he or she is secure, protected, and loved. When we live in this new creation that God has given us – the True Self – we can let go of our need to control – ourselves or others. In this place we are connected to God’s Love and Power.
© The Cross Ministry Group The Welcoming Prayer April 2017 - Printable pdf.