Meditative Prayer: A Deeply Personal Practice

Prayer and meditation are similar but distinct acts. Prayer is a conversation with God, and meditation involves deep, intentional contemplation. In meditative prayer, Christians seek to hear God's voice by quieting their minds and focusing on His Word. This practice, rooted in Hebrew tradition, involves setting aside distractions and creating a quiet space to be with God. Meditative prayer is a way to deepen one's relationship with God, listen to His voice, and experience His presence.

Meditative prayer is a lost art

Meditative prayer is a practice that has been lost in the modern world, with many Christians today suffering from a lack of knowledge about it. It is distinct from personal prayer, where one speaks to God, as it involves allowing God to speak to us through His Word and Spirit. In meditative prayer, we quiet our minds and let God fill our hearts with His presence.

A World of Distractions

The many distractions of the world can easily drown out the quiet voice of God, making us numb to our spiritual needs. To counter this, we need to find a quiet place to be with God and hear His Word. In stillness and solitude, God speaks to our hearts and fills us with His Spirit.

Biblical References to Meditative Prayer

The Bible, rooted in Hebrew tradition, makes numerous references to meditative prayer:

> "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night." (Joshua 1:8)

> "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2)

> "O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97)

> "I will meditate on your precepts and regard your ways." (Psalm 119:15)

> "I shall lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on your statutes." (Psalm 119:48)

> "My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on your word." (Psalm 119:148)

> "I meditate on all your doings; I muse on the works of your hands." (Psalm 143:5)

Active vs Contemplative

The Bible also illustrates the difference between the active and contemplative Christian life in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word, while Martha was distracted by serving. Jesus said that Mary had chosen well, as she was not distracted and was sitting at His feet.

Steps to Meditative Prayer

Meditative prayer requires intentionality and discipline:

• Find a quiet place: Create a dedicated space away from distractions to allow God to speak to you.
• Set aside time: Dedicate 20-30 minutes for meditative prayer, as it takes time to drown out worldly cares and listen for God's voice.
• Choose a scripture: Select a meaningful passage from Scripture that focuses on God's goodness, promises, or worship.
• Allow God to speak: This is often the most challenging part. Open your heart and mind to hear God's voice and let Him speak to you.

Meditative prayer is a powerful practice that allows us to deepen our relationship with God and experience His presence in a profound way. By quieting our minds and opening our hearts, we can hear God's voice and feel His refreshing Spirit.

Meditative prayer is not the same as Eastern meditation

Meditative prayer is a form of prayer in which one allows God to speak to them through His word and Spirit. It involves finding a quiet place to be with God and hear His word. In stillness and solitude, God speaks to our hearts and fills us with the refreshing presence of His Spirit.

Eastern meditation focuses on drawing from within the meditator to find peace and tranquility, and it relies on the belief that every person is inherently good. The goal is to take the individual through a succession of stages to the final goal of spiritual freedom or "nirvana".

By contrast, Biblical meditation focuses on God's Word, each moment and hour of the day. It is about allowing God into every experience and depending on Him to find sustainable peace. Biblical meditation also has nothing to do with the posture of the body, unlike Eastern meditation, which encourages people to meditate in a relaxed but upright way, usually sitting cross-legged on a cushion.

In summary, meditative prayer and Eastern meditation differ in their focus, worldview, and approach to meditation. While meditative prayer is about filling the mind with God's Word, Eastern meditation is about emptying the mind and focuses on the individual's inherent goodness rather than a relationship with God.

Meditative prayer is harder than vocal prayer

Meditative prayer is a form of prayer that involves quieting oneself to allow God to speak to you through His Word and Spirit. It is distinct from vocal prayer, which is a more common form of prayer that involves speaking to God. While both types of prayer are important, meditative prayer is often considered more challenging due to its emphasis on introspection and imagination.

In meditative prayer, individuals seek to remove distractions and focus on God's Word and goodness. This practice requires setting aside time, typically 20-30 minutes, to quiet the mind and listen for God's voice. It can be challenging to find a quiet place and maintain focus in our busy and distracting world. However, this dedicated time is necessary to drown out the cares of the world and hear from God.

Meditative prayer also utilizes the power of imagination, focusing on holy truths and engaging the emotions and desires. This aspect of meditation can be particularly difficult for those who have not mastered their imagination or struggle with distractions. The effort required to maintain focus and engage the imagination makes meditative prayer more challenging than vocal prayer.

Additionally, in meditative prayer, individuals may struggle with the patience needed to hear from God. Allowing God to speak to us and being open to His voice can be challenging. Many people do not hear the Lord because they do not create the space for Him to speak. This aspect of meditative prayer, which involves waiting and being receptive, can be more difficult than the active nature of vocal prayer.

Furthermore, meditative prayer requires individuals to choose a scripture passage to focus on. This step can be challenging as it involves selecting a passage that resonates and focusing on the goodness, promises, or worship of God. It demands more introspection and reflection than vocal prayer, which can make it feel more challenging.

Overall, while both vocal and meditative prayer are important aspects of spiritual practice, meditative prayer is often considered harder due to its emphasis on introspection, imagination, and creating space to hear from God. It requires dedication, focus, and patience to engage in meditative prayer effectively.

Meditative prayer is about listening, not talking

Meditative prayer is a form of prayer that involves listening to God, rather than speaking to Him. It is a way to quieten the noise of the world and allow God to speak to us through His Word and Spirit. In a world full of distractions, finding a quiet place to be alone with God is essential for meditative prayer.

Meditative prayer is not about emptying the mind, as in some Eastern meditation practices, but about filling the mind with God's Word. It is a way to drown out the cares of the world and focus entirely on God. This form of prayer is referenced in the Bible:

> "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night." (Joshua 1:8)

> "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2)

Meditative prayer is about sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing His Word, as Mary did in the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). It is a way to let the Lord speak to us and fill us with His Spirit.

To practice meditative prayer, one must first find a quiet place, free from distractions. It is important to give yourself enough time, around 20-30 minutes, to drown out the world and focus on God. Choose a scripture passage that is meaningful to you and that focuses on the goodness, promises, or worship of God. Then, allow time for God to speak to you and listen for His voice. This is the most challenging part of meditative prayer, as it requires us to be still and open to hearing from God.

Meditative prayer is a way to deepen our relationship with God and to experience His presence in a new way. It is a form of prayer that allows us to listen and be filled with His Spirit.

Meditative prayer is about being intentional with God

In our busy lives, it is easy to get distracted and drown out the quiet voice of God. Meditative prayer requires us to find a quiet place, away from the noise and distractions of the world, and spend time in stillness and solitude with God. This intentional act of setting aside time and creating a sacred space allows us to open ourselves up to God and invite Him into our presence.

Meditative prayer is a form of Christian meditation, a practice rooted in the Bible and the Hebrew tradition. It involves a deep, intentional contemplation of Scripture or the life of Christ. By meditating on God's Word, we fill our minds with His truth and gain a deeper understanding of His ways and His heart. This intentional focus on God helps us to strengthen our relationship with Him and discover who we are and what He desires for us.

To practice meditative prayer, we must first find a quiet place where we can be still and alone with God. We should give ourselves at least 20-30 minutes to drown out the cares of the world and quiet our minds. We can then choose a scripture passage to meditate on, focusing on the goodness of God, His promises, or our worship of Him. As we meditate, we allow God to speak to us and fill us with His Spirit.

Meditative prayer is a powerful way to connect with God and grow in our relationship with Him. It is a form of prayer that allows us to be intentional, focused, and present with the Lord. By setting aside time and creating a sacred space, we open ourselves up to hear from God and experience His presence in a deeper way.

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