Sunday Devotion

Welcome to the Sunday Devotion. Have you ever had a week where life seems to overwhelm your plans and schedules? Personally, I’ve raced to clinic visits, doctor appointments and trips to the lab and found little solace in the potentiality of solutions, because that is all we got – potential answers. So join me as I take a deep breath, close my eyes for a moment and just breathe in and out, cleansing my anxiety and removing the worries. Let’s turn our minds to the Holy Spirit to refresh and refuel. Let’s explore a Spiritual Practice where we center our thoughts, hopes and prayers on blessings for ourselves and others.

Today we will experience a blessing of Loving Kindness. Take a few moments to quiet yourself and find a comfortable position.

Allow the following words of blessing to resonate in your heart and mind. Pause at the end of each phrase and give yourself time to repeat it again.
May I be blessed with loving kindness. Pause. Repeat.
May I be blessed with health. Pause. Repeat.
May I be blessed with true happiness. Pause. Repeat.
May I be blessed with peace. Pause. Repeat.
 
Think of someone who is beloved to you. Visualize the person as you pray. Insert the person’s name into the prayer in your mind:
May my beloved __________be blessed with loving kindness. Pause. Repeat.
May my beloved __________be blessed with health. Pause. Repeat.
May my beloved __________be blessed with true happiness. Pause. Repeat.
May my beloved __________be blessed with peace. Pause. Repeat.
 
Now think of a close friend. Visualize the person as you pray:
May my friend be blessed with loving kindness. Pause. Repeat
May my friend be blessed with health. Pause. Repeat
May my friend be blessed with true happiness. Pause. Repeat
May my friend be blessed with peace. Pause. Repeat
 
Think of someone with whom you are in conflict or someone who has harmed you. Visualize this person. Breathe deeply and lovingly pray this blessing:
May the one who harmed me be blessed with loving kindness. Pause. Repeat
May the one who harmed me be blessed with health. Pause. Repeat
May the one who harmed me be blessed with true happiness. Pause. Repeat
May the one who harmed me be blessed with peace. Pause. Repeat
 
Praying for blessings for yourself and others, loved ones or your “enemies”,  strengthens your own peacefulness and compassion. As your soul seeks contentment with a thankful heart, may you go forth filled with the spirit of loving kindness, thankfulness and peace.
Amen
Author: Bonnie Barber