Musical Interlude A Christian guided visualization meditation prayer for healing.
This meditation begins with some simple relaxation exercises where I will invite you to focus on your breathing and relax your muscles.
Then follows a guided visualization prayer which invites God's Holy Spirit to be present and active in those aspects of our lives which require healing.
Meditations are used to support emotional and spiritual healing for a number of reasons.
The use recognizes what is increasingly understood to be the impact of the body on the mind and vice versa.
Our experience tells us,
For example,
That if we eat particular foods we may notice the impact of this on our mood and mental functioning.
Similarly,
Medical and psychological research has found that certain patterns of thought are associated with physical and mental well-being.
As people of faith,
We also acknowledge the interaction of the spiritual dimension in our lives with that of our bodies and minds.
Little is known about this intimate connection between body,
Mind and spirit.
We begin though from the premise that this connection is intended by God and can be used as a channel for our healing,
Whether of body,
Mind or spirit.
When healing meditation is used in healing services,
It is within a context which provides biblical teaching about healing,
As well as opportunity for personal prayer and for receiving laying on of hands and prayer from others.
This broader context is important for healing and spiritual growth.
For that reason I would encourage you to consider making study of the Bible,
Personal prayer that is communication with God,
And the support and prayer of a community of faith,
Regular parts of your life.
We also believe that as individuals there are certain practical areas in which we have a responsibility to facilitate our own healing.
For this reason,
I would encourage you to seek out and continue receiving the very best physical and mental health care available to you.
This is done believing that God works through and in partnership with the skills of qualified health professionals.
Finally,
Some considerations for people who are new to Christian healing meditation.
Occasionally people find that it initially feels a little awkward to follow the muscle relaxation section of the meditation.
Most people report that with experience this passes.
Some people find it easier than others to respond to a guided visualization in the mind's eye or imagination.
I would encourage you to respond to the meditation as feels comfortable,
Through visualization,
Awareness of bodily sensation,
By following particular words,
Or through a combination of these.
Occasionally during a meditation listeners will become aware of a thought,
Image or word that they experience as guidance,
Guidance from God or from themselves about their particular situation.
If that occurs and the thought,
Image or word is consistent with what you know about God's will and character,
Then you are encouraged to accept it as God's guidance to you.
If you feel less certain,
You are encouraged to seek out the counsel of a trusted friend or prayerful Christian.
Begin by making yourself comfortable in your seat.
You may prefer to find a space on the floor to lie down.
If you are sitting,
You may want to rest both feet on the floor and your hands on the tops of your legs,
Either palms down or palms up in a gesture of openness.
You may want to close your eyes to reduce distraction.
Become aware of your breathing.
Notice how your breath feels as it passes through your nose and into your lungs and then out again.
You may want to visualize breathing in a sense of calm and breathing out any sense of tension.
As you follow your breath,
You may become aware of places in your body where you are holding tension.
If so,
I would encourage you to release those muscles.
If you are holding tension in your scalp,
Face,
Jaw or neck,
Let it go.
It's very common for people to hold tension in their shoulders and back.
If you notice that,
Relax those muscles.
You may want to visualize the tension in your shoulders and arms slipping out through your fingers.
Again if you are holding tension in the muscles of your abdomen or legs,
Let those muscles go and feel the tension slip from your legs through your toes.
In this stillness,
Become aware of God's presence and yourself in God's presence.
As feels comfortable,
Invite God's Holy Spirit into your life and circumstances.
Visualize and notice that sense of God's presence as it flows into and through your life circumstances,
Touching your concerns and relationships and your thoughts,
Those you share with others and those which you're prior at,
Those barely conscious and largely unconscious thoughts and impulses.
You may also visualize or notice that sense of God's presence touching your body and that place where mind,
Body and spirit meet.
Make this opportunity to rest your mind and body in that sense of God's presence.
I would encourage you to bring before God the point of concern or hurt which comes to mind.
It may be a concern for yourself,
For healing of body,
Mind,
Spirit or relationships.
It may be a concern for someone you love.
I would encourage you to spend some time communicating silently with God about the concern which comes to mind.
Take some time to listen as well for guidance.
As you are able,
Invite God's Holy Spirit into this situation.
Visualize or attend to that sense of God's Spirit flowing into the situation.
With the eye of faith,
You may want to see this situation touched and changed by God's faithfulness.
Our time here will shortly be coming to an end.
As you rest in the stillness,
Know that God is as close as your breath and always willing and wanting to be invited into the circumstances of your life.
Know also that God will go with you from this place.
Slowly,
As you are able,
Gradually become more aware of the room around you.
As you are able,
Gradually become more aware of the room around you.
At the time that feels right for you,
Open your eyes.
This guided visualization meditation prayer for healing was written and read by Sharon Southwell.
Many thanks to Bortex for the theme music from She's a Gift.
