190: Navigating Contemplative Spiritual Practices with Celia Miller

Celia Miller is a wife, writer, blogger, author,  online community leader, and follower of Christ who is passionate helping equip others to slow down, seek still moments, and behold God's presence with them in the everyday. She comes on the show today to answer the question, "Are contemplative spiritual disciplines New Age?", and to equip us to grow in our walks with the Lord. I think you'll find this episode to be very helpful, encouraging, and edifying.

What We Chat About on This Episode:

~Tackling the question, "Are contemplative spiritual practices New Age?"; my own personal experience with this concept

~The call the Lord has had on both of our lives to quiet, stillness, slowness, and contemplation; what that journey has been like

~Why these contemplative practices mean so much to Celia and how they have impacted her walk with the Lord

~The invitation the Lord issues for us to a life of communion and relationship with Him rather than just going through the motions or checking a box

~Bringing God with us into every moment of every day rather than just relegating our time with Him to our morning quiet time

~The practices of contemplative prayer, breath prayer, and centering prayer; what they are, examples of each, and the whole point of them

~The practice of daily or weekly examen, what that is, and the impact it has had on our lives

~The long thread contemplative prayer has through church history

~The importance of discernment and the differences between these contemplative Christian practices and what the New Age teaches and presents

~How these practices can aid you in your understanding of God's love for you

~The concept of "emptying your mind" and whether or not that is Biblical; the importance of filling our minds with God's truth and His goodness

~The practice of lectio divina, what it is, and the long thread of lectio divina in church history; the importance of slowing down in your Bible reading and not just rushing through the text

~Emphasizing the importance of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives; understanding that it is not our striving, but rather the work of the Spirit of God that grows and changes us

~What "spiritual formation" refers to; what that is

~The ability to rest in our belovedness before the Father

~The beauty of the contemplative way for those of us who are prone to noise, hurry, busyness, and a wrong attaching of our identity to what we do or accomplish

~The differences between Christian spiritual practices and New Age spiritual practices

~Resting in the presence of the Lord and hearing His still, small voice

~Scripture passages that talk about being still before the Lord and casting all our cares on Him; the spiritual impact of doing so, and why the enemy doesn't want us to

~The gift of the Holy Spirit; understanding that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to companion us

~And more!

For full shownotes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast