What do you think?
Rate this book
Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer
"Lewis presents an intimate view of his centering prayer journey. He helps us discover the contemplative life and who we are in the deepest sense, made in God’s image."— Fr. Carl Arico, founding member of Contemplative Outreach Ltd., and author of A Taste of Silence"This work offers a friendly and accessible approach to centering prayer that will be of great benefit to those new to the practice. Rich has a lovely way of inviting the reader in through honest reflections on his own experience, both struggles and graces. These stories offer comfort and gentle encouragement on the way."— Christine Valters Paintner, author of The Soul of a Pilgrim"Rich Lewis’s writing is unique in its simplicity and lack of pretense. And he is nothing if not honest, especially regarding his passion for centering prayer. In this book you will find down-to-earth spiritual practice that echoes throughout Rich’s life as a husband, dad, and financial consultant. Highly recommended!"— Amos Smith, author of Be Still and Listen
149 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2020
258 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Rich Lewis
1 book23 followersRich Lewis is an author, speaker and coach focusing on Centering Prayer as a means of inner transformation. He teaches Centering Prayer in both his local and virtual community and offers One on One Coaching. He publishes a weekly meditation, book reviews and interviews on his site, Silence Teaches.
He has published articles for a number of organizations including Contemplative Light, Abbey of the Arts , Contemplative Outreach , EerdWord , In Search of a New Eden the Ordinary Mystic at Patheos and The Contemplative Writer.
Rich has been a daily practitioner of Centering Prayer since June 1, 2014. Centering Prayer has been so life giving and life changing that he feels compelled to share his journey with others who wish to learn more. Rich resides with his family in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Learn more about Rich at www.SilenceTeaches.com.
He has published articles for a number of organizations including Contemplative Light, Abbey of the Arts , Contemplative Outreach , EerdWord , In Search of a New Eden the Ordinary Mystic at Patheos and The Contemplative Writer.
Rich has been a daily practitioner of Centering Prayer since June 1, 2014. Centering Prayer has been so life giving and life changing that he feels compelled to share his journey with others who wish to learn more. Rich resides with his family in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Learn more about Rich at www.SilenceTeaches.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 19, 2023
It has been a pleasure to read Rich Lewis' book "Sitting with God", and it is a joy for me to write this review. As a centering prayer practitioner myself, I have found a wonderful resonance with the reflections of this kindred spirit.
Rich's style of writing is very personal, grounded in his own practice and experience. His reflections are helpful in guiding the journey of centering prayer, both for people new to the practice, and for experienced practitioners. I really enjoy the way Rich interchanges the pronous he uses for God between feminine and masculine, usually leading with the feminine, which is a refreshing break from the masculine-dominated language of much of Christian writing.
Rich has a lovely way of bringing together Jesus' humanity and divinity, as well as our own. "We are messy broken humans and we are made in God’s image and destined for glory. Both are true. The deeper we plumb one truth, the more deeply we recognize and honor the other."
Rich shares his own faith journey, and it is a wonderful example of what Richard Rohr describes as order-disorder-reorder. This process led him to write very beautifully about where he has come to: "God was no longer the Deity up in the sky who looked down at me. God was now as close as my breath. She was within each breath I took. He was even closer than each breath. God was within me, yet also outside of me and everywhere. I began to practice silence. ... Mysteriously and paradoxically, God seemed to be in the silence, outside of the silence, and within."
If you are experienced in centering prayer, this book is a refreshing call to continue with your practice or to renew your intention. If you are new to centering prayer this book will encourage you to continue, with guidance from a fellow practitioner. Each chapter ends with a helpful set of questions for reflection and discussion, making this a helpful book to read with a group of fellow seekers.
Here are some quotes from the book that I particularly enjoyed:
"Silent prayer is a paradox. We both freefall into an infinite Mystery and are upheld by God at the same time. The deeper we fall, we never hit bottom, for God has no limit. We plunge into the depths of Mystery, yet we are held securely by the love of God."
"I don’t need to pray. I don’t want to pray. Those aren’t the words I use anymore. Instead, I want to be held by the Presence. I want to be loved and healed by the Presence. I want to take this Presence with me into my non-centering parts of the day."
"When we are silent we are naked before God. We empty our mind of its thoughts and emotions. We let God’s gaze shine directly on us."
"I came from Great Mystery. I live connected to Luminous Presence. I die into Magnificent Unity. I rest assured that whether I live or die, suffer or celebrate, “All will be well and all manner of things will be well.”
"I don’t need to pray. I don’t want to pray. Those aren’t the words I use anymore. Instead, I want to be held by the Presence. I want to be loved and healed by the Presence. I want to take this Presence with me into my non-centering parts of the day."
Rich's style of writing is very personal, grounded in his own practice and experience. His reflections are helpful in guiding the journey of centering prayer, both for people new to the practice, and for experienced practitioners. I really enjoy the way Rich interchanges the pronous he uses for God between feminine and masculine, usually leading with the feminine, which is a refreshing break from the masculine-dominated language of much of Christian writing.
Rich has a lovely way of bringing together Jesus' humanity and divinity, as well as our own. "We are messy broken humans and we are made in God’s image and destined for glory. Both are true. The deeper we plumb one truth, the more deeply we recognize and honor the other."
Rich shares his own faith journey, and it is a wonderful example of what Richard Rohr describes as order-disorder-reorder. This process led him to write very beautifully about where he has come to: "God was no longer the Deity up in the sky who looked down at me. God was now as close as my breath. She was within each breath I took. He was even closer than each breath. God was within me, yet also outside of me and everywhere. I began to practice silence. ... Mysteriously and paradoxically, God seemed to be in the silence, outside of the silence, and within."
If you are experienced in centering prayer, this book is a refreshing call to continue with your practice or to renew your intention. If you are new to centering prayer this book will encourage you to continue, with guidance from a fellow practitioner. Each chapter ends with a helpful set of questions for reflection and discussion, making this a helpful book to read with a group of fellow seekers.
Here are some quotes from the book that I particularly enjoyed:
"Silent prayer is a paradox. We both freefall into an infinite Mystery and are upheld by God at the same time. The deeper we fall, we never hit bottom, for God has no limit. We plunge into the depths of Mystery, yet we are held securely by the love of God."
"I don’t need to pray. I don’t want to pray. Those aren’t the words I use anymore. Instead, I want to be held by the Presence. I want to be loved and healed by the Presence. I want to take this Presence with me into my non-centering parts of the day."
"When we are silent we are naked before God. We empty our mind of its thoughts and emotions. We let God’s gaze shine directly on us."
"I came from Great Mystery. I live connected to Luminous Presence. I die into Magnificent Unity. I rest assured that whether I live or die, suffer or celebrate, “All will be well and all manner of things will be well.”
"I don’t need to pray. I don’t want to pray. Those aren’t the words I use anymore. Instead, I want to be held by the Presence. I want to be loved and healed by the Presence. I want to take this Presence with me into my non-centering parts of the day."
September 8, 2020
I was invited by the author to read this book and offer an honest review. I am grateful for the privilege, and particularly for the opportunity to read a well-written book on the gift and blessing of centering prayer.
What sets this book apart from other books on centering prayer that I have read is that it is very relatable. Rich is not a monk or a priest. He is a husband and father, and has a full-time job. Because of this, his book offers a clear and helpful example of what a life like his can look like with centering prayer as a keystone spiritual discipline. He offers many practical tips and personal examples of this throughout the book, and many people would find these very helpful. His love of centering prayer and his passion to share it with others is truly contagious.
My hesitation in recommending this book, and the reason for my 3-star review, is due to some of its theology. Rich makes the claim that we as human beings are divine (little “d”, as he puts it). “We are not God,” he writes. “However, we possess an inner divinity at our core (Genesis 1:27). Let’s call it our little ‘d.’ We are most human when we let go and act from our inner divinity.” This claim that we are divine beings pushes my Christian understanding beyond what I am comfortable with. I certainly believe that we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), but we are created, not divine. And not only that, but we are created beings who have sinned and are in need of salvation. Believing that we are divine beings can lead the author to sharing thoughts like this one: “John Marion reminds us, ‘All we need to do to be saved is to consciously realize who we have been all along. We need to realize our divinity, own it, take up the responsibility of it, and live it.’” I disagree - realizing who we are does not save us. Centering prayer cannot save us. As Christians, we believe that it is Jesus alone who saves us. Realizing who we are can turn us to our savior, but it cannot save us. While centering prayer can deepen our relationship with Jesus, and help us in all sorts of other ways, it cannot save us.
With that said, I still really enjoyed this book, and found much of it practical and filled with many useful tools for growing in our prayer-life through centering prayer. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to spend some time with his book and to offer this review.
What sets this book apart from other books on centering prayer that I have read is that it is very relatable. Rich is not a monk or a priest. He is a husband and father, and has a full-time job. Because of this, his book offers a clear and helpful example of what a life like his can look like with centering prayer as a keystone spiritual discipline. He offers many practical tips and personal examples of this throughout the book, and many people would find these very helpful. His love of centering prayer and his passion to share it with others is truly contagious.
My hesitation in recommending this book, and the reason for my 3-star review, is due to some of its theology. Rich makes the claim that we as human beings are divine (little “d”, as he puts it). “We are not God,” he writes. “However, we possess an inner divinity at our core (Genesis 1:27). Let’s call it our little ‘d.’ We are most human when we let go and act from our inner divinity.” This claim that we are divine beings pushes my Christian understanding beyond what I am comfortable with. I certainly believe that we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), but we are created, not divine. And not only that, but we are created beings who have sinned and are in need of salvation. Believing that we are divine beings can lead the author to sharing thoughts like this one: “John Marion reminds us, ‘All we need to do to be saved is to consciously realize who we have been all along. We need to realize our divinity, own it, take up the responsibility of it, and live it.’” I disagree - realizing who we are does not save us. Centering prayer cannot save us. As Christians, we believe that it is Jesus alone who saves us. Realizing who we are can turn us to our savior, but it cannot save us. While centering prayer can deepen our relationship with Jesus, and help us in all sorts of other ways, it cannot save us.
With that said, I still really enjoyed this book, and found much of it practical and filled with many useful tools for growing in our prayer-life through centering prayer. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to spend some time with his book and to offer this review.
March 30, 2022
I am only halfway through as I am using it as a spiritual discipline--reading a section, then doing the recommended sit. I enjoy the refreshing, simple, direct writing style. Very contemplative. I concur with much of what is written.
The first sit I did gave me a breakthrough. During covid shutdowns, the loss of my mom due to old age, various issues, I felt somewhat numb and would say, "I want to cry" to my husband, but tears didn't come. With my first sit, in the letting go phase which Rich speaks of as a healing time, I was able to release the stress and the tears came. It was awesome. It was needed.
There are a couple of areas I don't completely agree on which is one star less. One is I wish he had introduced in the body why he chose to use "she" to describe God. That alone could be offputting to many as they suddenly stumble over it. Eventually, I saw a comment inside the cover pages about why he prefers the use of 'she' but it would have helped me if he had explained that in the body. (If it is in the introduction, I didn't read it--I jumped into the body.) I know there are a few times in the Bible God is compared to a she--mother hen, or a few other female analogies, but in most cases throughout the bible is referred to as a father, a male figure. The use of 'she' seems a little pagan or new age to some of us.
The other point is, I agree Christ indwells us. This could be the little 'd' referred to. Act 1:8 we receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. The disagreement I have is not all humans are little 'd', privy to divinity. Only those who accept Jesus as the savior receive the Holy Spirit with his power. We are all made in God's image, but we don't all have his indwelling. It is a choice.
I will continue this practice as I read the last half of the book. It is something I needed at this time in life the way the world has so many stresses on us.
The first sit I did gave me a breakthrough. During covid shutdowns, the loss of my mom due to old age, various issues, I felt somewhat numb and would say, "I want to cry" to my husband, but tears didn't come. With my first sit, in the letting go phase which Rich speaks of as a healing time, I was able to release the stress and the tears came. It was awesome. It was needed.
There are a couple of areas I don't completely agree on which is one star less. One is I wish he had introduced in the body why he chose to use "she" to describe God. That alone could be offputting to many as they suddenly stumble over it. Eventually, I saw a comment inside the cover pages about why he prefers the use of 'she' but it would have helped me if he had explained that in the body. (If it is in the introduction, I didn't read it--I jumped into the body.) I know there are a few times in the Bible God is compared to a she--mother hen, or a few other female analogies, but in most cases throughout the bible is referred to as a father, a male figure. The use of 'she' seems a little pagan or new age to some of us.
The other point is, I agree Christ indwells us. This could be the little 'd' referred to. Act 1:8 we receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. The disagreement I have is not all humans are little 'd', privy to divinity. Only those who accept Jesus as the savior receive the Holy Spirit with his power. We are all made in God's image, but we don't all have his indwelling. It is a choice.
I will continue this practice as I read the last half of the book. It is something I needed at this time in life the way the world has so many stresses on us.
January 25, 2021
If you long to experience God's Presence, read this book.
If you want to learn more about Jesus, read this book.
If you're looking for clear, concise information about silent prayer, written authentically and without pretense from personal experience, read this book.
If you feel that God is really only interested in people who are more spiritual or more religious or more devoted or more anything else than you, read this book.
If you believe your commitments and obligations leave you no time for daily prayer, read this book.
One might think a book about silence would be counterintuitive, or at least a little awkward. But Rich Lewis brings the power of God's Presence right into the spaces between each sentence. Every line felt like a bite of concentrated nutrition for my soul, and each space between was like a deep drink of Living Water.
Read this book. God will change your life.
If you want to learn more about Jesus, read this book.
If you're looking for clear, concise information about silent prayer, written authentically and without pretense from personal experience, read this book.
If you feel that God is really only interested in people who are more spiritual or more religious or more devoted or more anything else than you, read this book.
If you believe your commitments and obligations leave you no time for daily prayer, read this book.
One might think a book about silence would be counterintuitive, or at least a little awkward. But Rich Lewis brings the power of God's Presence right into the spaces between each sentence. Every line felt like a bite of concentrated nutrition for my soul, and each space between was like a deep drink of Living Water.
Read this book. God will change your life.
August 24, 2020
Let go and find your true self
In Sitting With God Lewis invites us to share the journey of Centering Prayer. In this easily readable book he discusses the benefits he has gained from practicing centering prayer and makes a case for the value of Centering Prayer in helping individuals connect with their true self. The book was informative, practical and has encouraged me to make a greater effort at practicing centering prayer. In the past I had looked at Centering Prayer as a challenge, after reading Sitting With God I feel a fresh desire to try again and be patient with myself and let go of my expectations and my need to be good at centering prayer. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Centering Prayer, there are also helpful discussion and reflection questions.
In Sitting With God Lewis invites us to share the journey of Centering Prayer. In this easily readable book he discusses the benefits he has gained from practicing centering prayer and makes a case for the value of Centering Prayer in helping individuals connect with their true self. The book was informative, practical and has encouraged me to make a greater effort at practicing centering prayer. In the past I had looked at Centering Prayer as a challenge, after reading Sitting With God I feel a fresh desire to try again and be patient with myself and let go of my expectations and my need to be good at centering prayer. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Centering Prayer, there are also helpful discussion and reflection questions.
August 18, 2020
Rich Lewis’ writing is unique in its simplicity and lack of pretense. And he is nothing if not honest, especially regarding his passion for centering prayer. In this book you will find down-to-earth spiritual practice that echoes throughout Rich’s life as a husband, dad, and financial consultant. Highly recommended!
–Amos Smith, author of Be Still and Listen
–Amos Smith, author of Be Still and Listen
September 10, 2020
Being present to the Presence
Rich Lewis has given us a wonderful introduction to contemplative prayer in this book. He has reached across the broad span of writers and drawn out the central core to give us a practicioner's perspective. Practical and accessible, Rich has given us a great introduction for those wishing to begin their exploration of contemplative prayer.
Rich Lewis has given us a wonderful introduction to contemplative prayer in this book. He has reached across the broad span of writers and drawn out the central core to give us a practicioner's perspective. Practical and accessible, Rich has given us a great introduction for those wishing to begin their exploration of contemplative prayer.
January 13, 2023
this book took me to the next level
Let’s face it for most folks prayer is a data dump, a voiced laundry list, a one way conversation between two people. This book reminds me that any conversation between two people who live each other makes space for both to talk. Silence is God’s classroom. He speaks in many ways but one way I have not pursued is He speaks in the space between our thoughts-the so called centering prayer the book suggests. Very powerful. Very helpful.
Let’s face it for most folks prayer is a data dump, a voiced laundry list, a one way conversation between two people. This book reminds me that any conversation between two people who live each other makes space for both to talk. Silence is God’s classroom. He speaks in many ways but one way I have not pursued is He speaks in the space between our thoughts-the so called centering prayer the book suggests. Very powerful. Very helpful.
November 9, 2024
Prayer should be good as for the world otherwise it won’t work so
Prayer is a given possibility so use it welk and think before you pray as pray thinked
Whatever we ask for believing we get it we will get
Intermittent fasting is an important factor
The words will be implemented as manifested kn you’re succes as the book has quite some to have
Prayer is a given possibility so use it welk and think before you pray as pray thinked
Whatever we ask for believing we get it we will get
Intermittent fasting is an important factor
The words will be implemented as manifested kn you’re succes as the book has quite some to have
February 6, 2021
The first half of the book I would give 5 stars. I gave it 4 because the second half of the book is more the author's personal theology which isn't what I expected the book to be, but all in all, a good read. I was really inspired by his thoughts on centering prayer.
August 17, 2020
This book is an easy-to-read, accessible introduction to centering prayer, and I was glad to interview the author.
October 9, 2023
Had to quit
Once you started calling God she I had to dismiss everything thing else. He is Father God for a reason. I just see new age in your writing now.
Once you started calling God she I had to dismiss everything thing else. He is Father God for a reason. I just see new age in your writing now.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews