In evangelical circles (of which I am a part) many people are cautious about the term Christian meditation as the latter part of the phrase is often associated with Buddhism or supposed ‘new age’ practices. For the average evangelical these are things to steer well clear of so people talking about Christian meditation are often given a wide berth. Instead terms like ‘devotional time’ or ‘quiet time’ are used for what is essentially the same thing.

I have to admit to being someone who has grown up in the camp that’s very cautious and almost neurotic about such things, but my experience of the last couple of years has seen me drawn to a contemplative approach to Christian spirituality and at the center of it are some practices of Christian meditation, and yes, much of it relates quite strongly to the spiritual practices of other faith traditions though there are fundamental differences that set them apart.

Meditation as a Biblical Concept

The term ‘meditate’ appears frequently in the Bible, often relating to the law of the Old Testament. David, in Psalm 1, talks about the person who ‘meditates’ on God’s law day and night as being blessed. Joshua is called to ‘meditate’ on the law day and night so that he may be careful to do everything in it.

These ideas of meditation would fit with the common evangelical understanding of them where Christian meditation is simply thinking about something – considering it and mulling over it. I believe this is an accurate depiction of meditation as offered in these verses, but I think there is more.

Some of the authors of the Bible also reference silence, being still, and there are plenty of places where prayer is engaged for long periods of time, denoting something more than just talking at God. Jesus was a fine example of such extended times in prayer. These other things talk about drawing us towards the relational aspect of who we are in proximity to God. You see, I’m not someone who just wants to think about God and understand what He has given – I want to know Him and hear Him. As with all good relationships this means being vulnerable and cultivating the art of listening. Listening involves learning to be silent and attentive – something we are called to do in our connection with God.

There are meditative/contemplative techniques that enable us to do this – to be still and know that He is God. I’m only going to offer two that I use. There are more and it doesn’t take much looking around to find them. Please note that these are simply a vehicle where the point is a closer relationship with God. They are not an end in and of themselves. They are not the point, God is.

1. Silence and the Jesus Prayer

Silence has become the key practice of my life. The point is to still myself and to remove all expectations on myself and God, and to simply be. I would describe this as listening, but it’s not listening in the sense that I’m tuning in for something audible, rather it’s a listening that is about shutting up and opening myself up for God to shape me as He wills – whatever that might look like, noticeable or not.

To be silent I use a prayer kneeler with a candle and icon on a stool in front of me to help focus my visual attention away from the normal distractions, and I momentarily engage in a way more like the evangelical understanding of meditation, with a focus on the Jesus Prayer – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” When I catch my mind aimlessly wandering off into the myriad of thought distractions that are freely available it’s that prayer that I use to bring myself back to that space of stillness. I don’t say it rote and blankly as some sort of mindless chant, but with attention given to each word as I say it. I’m not interested in emptying myself to become nothing. I just want to be still and slow the frenetic pace of my inner self so that I can be open to the Divine.

For you it might be a phrase as simple as ‘Father, I belong to you’ or something else. There is no magic formula, incantation or chant, it’s just whatever enables you to remain still and engage that sense of quiet.

Sometimes I begin such time of Christian meditation with a Bible reading, other times I leave that till after. The point for it is to just be. It’s not a time for prayer requests or to offload to God, it’s to simply kneel in His presence. You may choose to sit or stand – whatever enables you to free yourself from the distractions.

2. Lectio Divina

I’m a sucker for ‘studying’ the Bible – breaking it down word by word, examining the context etc etc to find what the point of any given passage is, but now I’m also interested in devotional reading – a more contemplative approach to scripture – so I use a tailored form of a technique called Lectio Divina (divine reading) where the sole aim is to be open to whatever the Spirit may choose to say to me through that passage – I pray it.

I approach the passage in prayer, asking God to reveal himself to me through it. I then read the passage slowly, being mindful of every word – it may be a few words, one verse or a chapter. I keep doing this, repeating the chosen passage slowly, engaging every word until a word or phrase seems to capture me. I then sit with it, letting it repeat in my head and praying whatever comes to mind through it, if anything. Once again, I have no preconceived agenda of what the outcome of that time should be.

Right now I’m using the Christian meditation practice of Lectio Divina as I journey through the Psalms and share my reflections here.

These are two of my primary forms of meditation. They may offer something to enrich your life or they may not. Feel free to use them however you wish, or reject them. They’ve been helpful to me because I’ve always been strong in trying to gain knowledge about God, but knowing God is something else altogether and these techniques of Christian meditation enable me to do that.