Reflection 4: Healing Our Image of God - Part 2/2
Dear fellow pilgrims,
As we continue our Lenten journey of healing and deepening our connection with God, today we are invited into a prayer practice that gently guides us toward healing our image of God. This practice was shared by my teacher Kasey Hitts of the Wisdom Tree Collective during my training as a Spiritual Director and is inspired by the book Simple Ways to Pray for Healing by Matthew Linn, Sheila Linn, and Dennis Linn.
Even for those of us who feel deeply connected to God, this is a valuable exercise. It is easy to assume that we already know who God is for us. However, sometimes questioning what we take for granted allows us to see with new eyes. Just as a familiar landscape can reveal unexpected beauty when we pause to truly look, our understanding of God can also expand in ways we never imagined.
This prayer practice is an invitation to rediscover the beauty of God. Not as an idea, but as a living and loving presence who desires our healing and wholeness.
May it open new pathways of trust, love, and intimacy in your relationship with the Divine.
Blessings on your practice,
Swaady
Healing Our Image of God: A Prayer Practice
1) Enter into Stillness
Find a quiet place where you can be undisturbed for a few moments.
Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in. Feel the air filling your lungs, and as you exhale, release any tension, anxiety, or restlessness.
With each inhale, imagine breathing in the love of God, a love that surrounds you, sustains you, and flows through you at all times. With each exhale, let go of any resistance, fear, or self-doubt that may stand in the way of receiving this love.
Become aware of the simple gift of breath itself, a sign that life is being offered to you in this very moment. Without any effort on your part, breath comes. It is not something you earn or deserve, it is simply given. In the same way, God’s love is not something you must strive for. It is already here, already holding you.
2) Recall a Loving Presence
Now, bring to mind a person or a pet who has loved you most. It might be a parent, grandparent, sibling, friend, mentor, or even a beloved animal companion. If multiple faces come to mind, allow your heart to settle on one for this moment.
If you struggle to identify someone, think of a time when a stranger or an acquaintance showed you kindness in a way that deeply moved you. Perhaps it was a moment of unexpected generosity, a reassuring presence during a difficult time, or simply the way someone saw you when you felt invisible.
Hold this person, pet, or moment in your awareness. Picture their face. Recall how it felt to be in their presence. Allow yourself to rest in the warmth of their love.
3) Receive the Gift of Their Love
Now, ask yourself: What was the unique gift this person or pet offered you? Was it unconditional love? Steadfast loyalty? Kindness? Wisdom? Comfort? A sense of safety? Laughter?
Whatever that gift was, allow yourself to receive it again. Let it fill you, just as it did in the past. Imagine their love flowing into you, surrounding you, embracing you.
This love was not abstract. It had a particular shape, a particular way of being expressed. Maybe it was the way they looked at you with understanding, the sound of their voice when they reassured you, or the way they simply showed up when you needed them.
Love, in its truest form, is never generic. It is personal, intimate, and uniquely fitting to who you are. Take a moment to feel gratitude for this love. Even if this person or pet is no longer physically present, their love has left an imprint on your soul.
4) Recognize This Love as the Love of God
Now, allow yourself to consider this truth: The way this person or pet loved you is a glimpse, a reflection, of how God loves you.
God’s love is not distant, theoretical, or impersonal. It is as real and tangible as the love you have known. Just as this person cared for you, God desires to care for you. Just as their love had a particularity, a way of fitting uniquely into your life, so too does God’s love.
Can you allow yourself to believe that God loves you at least as much as the one who has loved you most?
If this feels difficult, try speaking the words softly to yourself:
God loves me at least as much as the person or pet who has loved me most.
God’s kindness toward me is at least as real as the kindness I have received from another.
If love is real, then God must be love itself, in its purest form.
Let these words settle in your heart, not as an idea to analyze but as a truth to be experienced.
5) Be Present with Whatever Arises
If you find it difficult to imagine God loving you in this way, that is okay. Do not force yourself to feel something you are not ready to feel. Instead, simply notice what is happening within you.
If you experience resistance, hesitation, or doubt, just sit with it. If you feel grief, longing, or even anger, allow those feelings to be present without judgment. Healing takes time, and God meets you exactly where you are, as you are.
Even if you cannot yet fully embrace the idea of God’s love, return to your breath. The breath itself is a sign of divine presence. Even in doubt, even in uncertainty, you are being sustained.
Let yourself simply be with God, without expectation or pressure. God’s love is not something you need to grasp, chase, or prove yourself worthy of. It is already here. Already flowing toward you. Already holding you.
Take as much time as you need in this space. When you feel ready, gently open your eyes, carrying this experience with you into your day.
