A Devotional or A Centering…
What’s the Difference?
Some of the board of Hearts on Fire got asked about devotions vs centering.
Most people know what devotions are. Many church meetings start with a prayer or a brief scripture and prayer. Sometimes the devotion is related to the purpose of the meeting, and sometimes the devotion is not related to the purpose of the meeting. Many individuals have used the Upper Room, which is a one page devotion with a scripture, a brief story, and a prayer.
Devotions are brief. Usually, there is little or no discussion. People might engage their minds.
A devotional can also be a time of centering, but often it is not.
Centering is longer and provides space for each person to participate at multiple levels. A centering can shift the atmosphere of a meeting, set the tone to consider ministry, a call from God, or a mission.
A centering does several things:
- Invites Presence (both Holy Presence, but also invites the person to be fully present)
- Adopts a slower pace, not rushing, unhurried – with space between portions of what is shared, time for pondering, …
- Is a pause – lets those present stop, … and breathe
- Provides opportunity for reflection
- Often includes a little silence – or even minutes of silence
- Invites the gathered community to listen – to God, to self, to others
- Is invitational – not didactic or dogmatic
- Provides space for people to go deeper
- Allows people to arrive in wholeness – instead of just showing up in body.
Thus, a centering can facilitate the group being grounded and focused for the task before them.