Meditation: A Christian's Guide

how should christians advise about meditation

The word meditation has a bad reputation in some Christian circles, but it doesn't have to be a scary or uneasy concept. The Bible mentions meditation about 20 times, and it can be a great way for Christians to feel closer to God.

Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a person reflects upon the revelations of God. It involves deliberately focusing on specific thoughts, such as a Bible passage, and reflecting on their meaning in the context of God's love. The goal is to heighten the personal relationship based on God's love that marks Christian communion.

Meditation is not about emptying the mind, as in some Eastern religions or new-age practices. Instead, it is about filling the mind with thoughts related to biblical passages or Christian devotions. It is an active thought process, where Christians give themselves to the study of the Word, pray over it, and ask God for understanding.

There is no set amount of time, ideal location, or specific time of day for Christian meditation. The key is having an open heart and creating space for God to speak through His Word.

Characteristics Values
Time There is no set amount of time for Christian meditation. It can be as short as a few minutes or longer if desired.
Location There is no ideal location for Christian meditation. It can be done anywhere that is quiet and free of distractions.
Time of Day There is no specific time of day that is better for Christian meditation. It can be done at any time that is convenient and provides the least distractions.
Posture There is no prescribed posture for Christian meditation. It can be done sitting, standing, or lying down, as long as it is comfortable.
Bible Verse The Bible verse or passage for meditation can be chosen based on personal preference or relevance. It can be from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, or the Gospels.
Focus Christian meditation involves focusing on God and His Word, rather than emptying the mind. It involves reflecting on and pondering the meaning of the Bible verse or passage in the context of God's love and allowing God to speak through His Word.
Prayer Christian meditation is not the same as prayer but can be combined with prayer or ended with a prayer to feel closer to God.
Tools Tools such as a Bible, meditation app, devotional book, or study Bible can be used to guide Christian meditation.
Journaling Journaling can be used to help focus thoughts during Christian meditation by writing down reflections on the Bible verse or passage.

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Meditation on Scripture

The Bible mentions meditation or meditate 23 times, with 19 of these references appearing in the Book of Psalms. For example, Psalm 1:2 says, "but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night." Similarly, Joshua 1:8 instructs believers to "keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

The ultimate goal of Christian meditation is not just knowledge but a deeper union with God through his Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. It is a means of drawing nearer to God, savouring the richness of His Word, and building an appetite for spending more focused time with Him.

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Meditation is being attentive to God

Meditation is a form of prayer in which a Christian makes a structured attempt to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God. It involves deliberately focusing on specific thoughts, such as a Bible passage, and reflecting on their meaning in the context of God's love.

Christian meditation is not about emptying the mind but engaging every part of oneself, including the mind, emotions, imagination, creativity, and will. It is a conscious, continuous engagement of the mind with God. This is achieved by reflecting on and reciting Bible passages and letting God's words penetrate not just the mind but also one's emotions and will.

Meditation is not just for saints but for all Christians. It is a way to encounter the Living Word, Jesus Himself, and to deepen one's relationship with God.

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Christian meditation is distinct from non-Christian meditation

Secondly, Christian meditation involves actively exerting mental energy by filling the mind with thoughts related to God and His truth. This is in contrast to non-Christian meditation, which often advocates mental passivity and detachment from the world. Christian meditation calls for attachment to God and spiritual communion with Him, rather than detachment and inner journey.

Thirdly, Christian meditation has a different goal compared to non-Christian meditation. While non-Christian meditation often aims for mystical transport or altered states of consciousness, Christian meditation seeks moral transformation and a deepening of the personal relationship with God. Christian meditation also aims to heighten the personal relationship based on the love of God that marks Christian communion.

Finally, Christian meditation is often practised in conjunction with prayer, with the two activities complementing each other. In Christian meditation, the focus is on reflecting on God's word and allowing it to transform the individual, while prayer involves communicating with God.

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Christian meditation is not about emptying the mind

Christian meditation is about actively exerting mental energy to focus on God and His truth. It is a conscious, continuous engagement of the mind with God, and a process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts, such as a Bible passage, and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God.

The Bible speaks positively about meditation, with the biblical concept of meditation involving thinking that is directed by the Word of God. In the Psalms, David sings of meditating on the Law of God day and night. This is in contrast to Eastern meditation, which sets the emptying of the mind as its goal.

While Eastern meditation seeks to lose a sense of self, Christian meditation seeks to attach oneself to God and be transformed by Him. It is about becoming more loving toward God and others, and growing deeper in one's relationship with God, which results in more loving outward action toward others.

Meditation, in the Christian context, is not about gaining favor with God or following a specific formula. It is about spending time with God, acknowledging His presence, and surrendering one's perspectives, time, and priorities to Him. It is about seeking an encounter with God and allowing Him to speak to you through His Word.

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Christian meditation is a form of prayer

Christian meditation is a structured attempt to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God. The word "meditation" comes from the Latin word "meditārī", which means to reflect on, to study, and to practice. It involves deliberately focusing on specific thoughts, such as a Bible passage, and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God.

Christian meditation is a process of slowing down and ruminating on God's word. It is about taking a verse and mulling it over in your mind, memorizing it, and letting God speak to you through it. It is not about taking notes, studying the original language, or reading commentaries. It is a form of silent inner communion with God, where one engages in contemplative reflection on a Bible verse or one of God's attributes.

Meditation, as a form of Christian prayer, is attentive to God. It is a conscious, continuous engagement of the mind with God, a renewing of the mind, and part of the process by which the word of God penetrates the soul and spirit with illumination and transformation. It is essential to Christian living and is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, especially in the Book of Psalms.

Christian meditation is distinct from the styles of meditation performed in Eastern religions or New Age practices. While other types of meditation may suggest approaches to disengage the mind, Christian meditation aims to fill the mind with thoughts related to biblical passages or Christian devotions. It calls for attachment to God and spiritual communion with Him, rather than detachment from the world and metaphysical union with a 'god'. It advocates for an outward focus on the objective revelation of God in Scripture and creation, instead of an inner journey to find the center of one's being.

Meditation is an integral part of Christian prayer, with both Eastern and Western Christianity recognising three levels of prayer: vocal prayer, meditation, and contemplative prayer. Christian meditation involves more reflection than vocal prayer but is more structured than contemplative prayer. It is a path to salvation and redemption, bringing joy to the heart of God.

Frequently asked questions

What is Christian meditation?

How is Christian meditation different from non-Christian meditation?

What are some tips for beginners to get started with Christian meditation?

- Choose a quiet location away from any distractions.

- Grab your Bible or a meditation app and select a verse or passage to meditate on.

- Take your time and don't rush the process.

- Focus on filling your mind with thoughts of God, rather than emptying your mind.

- Make your meditation personal and relatable to your own life.

- End your meditation with a prayer.

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