The Welcoming Prayer
The Welcoming Prayer is a method of consenting to God’s presence and action in our physical and emotional reactions to events and situations in daily life. The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen our relationship with God through consenting in the ordinary activities of our day — “consent-on-the-go.” It helps to dismantle acquired emotional programs and to heal the wounds of a lifetime by addressing them where they are stored — in the body.
Practice
There are three movements of the prayer:
Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body.
“WELCOME” what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling.
Let go by saying “I let go of my desire for security, affection, control and embrace this moment as it is.”
The Welcome Prayer
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.
Version by Fr. Thomas Keating
Use the entire prayer, a portion or make up your own
Pray The Welcome Prayer with this video
Spend a moment and reflect on your time here