Brian Russell (Ph.D.) is an award winning professor of biblical studies and a transformational coach for pastors and spiritually-minded professionals. His personal mission is to seek out, study, and embody the deepest truths about God so that he can share them compellingly, lovingly, and transformationally with others. In this episode, Dr. Brain Russell (Author, Professor of Biblical Studies, Spiritual Growth Coach) and I discuss some of the amazing insights and teachings from his upcoming book, Centering Prayer: How Sitting Quietly In God’s Presence Can Change Your Life (available Sept. 2021).
The heart of The Centering Prayer is to sit quietly, focus attention on a particular word, and ultimately connect with life/reality beyond thought. Through a meditation practice, one is able to connect deeply with God – the transcendent source and essence of life itself. To sit in God’s presence is to sit in connection with Being – to experience the majesty of the present moment. All too often we get lost in our thoughts and judgements about ourselves, other people, and the world around us. However, thought is not the be-all and end-all of life – far from it, in fact. Everyone can learn to disidentify their thoughts from their true self and, in doing so, discover the true meaning of Love and God. Although this process of discovery can be challenging and uncomfortable at times, if you embrace it and practice it regularly, you will find that all areas of your life will transform and become empowered.
Dr Brian Russell
Brian Russell (Ph.D.) is an award winning professor of biblical studies and a transformational coach for pastors and spiritually-minded professionals. His personal mission is to seek out, study, and embody the deepest truths about God so that he can share them compellingly, lovingly, and transformationally with others. He is the author of Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed 2014), (re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade 2015); and the forthcoming Centering Prayer: How Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life. He is also host of the Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations podcast.
“A new, but ancient, way to pray can turn your life around. Discover how to experience God’s love at your core, freeing you to love others, and even yourself.
When biblical scholar and coach Brian Russell discovered centering prayer at a difficult crossroad in his life, he had no idea how his life would change. “Sensing God’s love for me has been so transformational that it almost feels as though I’ve experienced conversion all over again,” he writes. He became calmer, less anxious, less reactive, freed of past wounds, and a better listener in the presence of others.
Centering prayer, also known as the prayer of silence, helps you quiet your mind from the constant thoughts and impulses, and frees your true self to experience more of God’s love in the very core of your being.
This inviting guide gives you practical tools to make centering prayer a consistent habit in your life, gives the history and theological foundation for the practice, and helps identify and overcome common obstacles. Beginners, as well as seasoned practitioners, will gain inspiration, rich insight, and practical knowledge of a contemplative prayer practice that can open you up to deep experiences of inner peace.” – Amazon
Dr Brian’s Podcast: The Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations Podcast
Episode 132 Brian Russell on Inspiration, Attention and Astonishment: Reading the Bible for Deep Transformation – The Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations Podcast
- Episode 132 Brian Russell on Inspiration, Attention and Astonishment: Reading the Bible for Deep Transformation
- Episode 131 Matthew Lynch on Flood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God
- Episode 130 Joshua Bertolotti on Thomas Merton, Contemplation and Living a Life of Love
- Episode 129 Brian Russell–Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation
- Episode 128 Dr Ted Goshorn on How Prayer Changes Us
Underground Antics Podcast 