Christian Meditation

[Prodigal7]

What do you think about Christian Meditation? Some people are for it and some people are against it.

Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Roman Catholics have the Rosary. The Orthodox have the Jesus Prayer. Some of the modern Protestant praise songs seem to me very close to musical meditation.

The Strong's Biblical Concordance calls mediation the quiet contemplation of spiritual truths.

Have you tried contemplative prayer?? If so, what have been your experiences??

Psalm 119:48 - I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

My mind tends to race. I seem prone to anxiety. Contemplative prayer seems to calm me down and help me get in touch with my connection with God.

Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; 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.

I'm no theologian. To me, it seems that more than just snappy little 30 second prayers are needed to connect with God. For me, although I believe in grace, improving my contact with God has required work and discipline.

I look forward to any thoughts.

 

[Simon_Templar]

What experience I have had has been good. I think it is important to note that the goal of christian meditation is not to clear the mind to a state of emptiness, nor to find a state of nothingness, but to focus the mind on God and his truth.

I think the loss of meditative tradition has been a real blow to much of the church. I find it be a source of experiencing God, of calming the mind, and disciplining the mind, bringing it in line with God's truths rather than our circumstances. I only wish I did it more

 

[Prodigal7]

Thanks for your reply Simon.

It's interesting that you say you wish you spent more time in Christian meditation. I find often when I am about to read my scriptures or spend some quiet time with God that my mind starts racing. Sometimes it starts racing on trivial things.

One book I read said that if you know how to worry you know how to meditate. Worry is negative meditation.

Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Reading Psalms to me seems contemplative. One thing that fascinates me is how Psalms seems to cover the full range of human emotions. Everything we feel today people felt back then.

 

[Amylisa]

I tend to have an anxious mind and too many thoughts at once. I know what you mean.

I like praying the Rosary because it helps me to focus my mind on Jesus. In fact, often I have to stop here and there because as I pray my heart is so stirred for love of Him! And this is definitely calming. I also love to pray The Divine Mercy Chaplet. Jesus drew me to this even before I became Catholic. And I pray in other ways too. Just talking to Him is calming, and also I think it blesses HIM for us to think often of Him throughout the day, even if we just quickly say "I miss You" or "I love You."

Sometimes lately, I feel like He is wanting me to slow down and just be quiet at times, during prayer. And to just let Him love me. It is wonderful when I can let down my defenses with Jesus and also just TRUST in His great Heart of love for me!

Great topic, Prodigal!

 

[Rut]

I`m not so much a prayer type special when I meditate.

I like more to read the Bible and meditate over that.That give me comfort.Thanks to that I have find some really gold grain in the Bible.When I need to relax from reading the Bible Ecclesiastes 12:12 I go out in the nature and meditate about God there

 

[Prodigal7]

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Prayer and meditation gives me strength. I find the more I pray and meditate upon God the better I feel. When I slack I feel it.

The reason I brought up this post is because I'm still endeavoring to have a better contact with God. I fall into sin or laziness and then don't feel his presence as much.

It's interesting to think about what Jesus did when he was fasting for 40 days. I've never attempted a fast. Some people at my church have fasted. I know a very spiritual guy who owns a rehab center and who has helped countless people, he suggested I take a day and go into nature and think about God.

Yesterday I backslid. My sins still come back to bite me. Like many of us, I have a couple problem areas. I'm working on them. Compared to five years ago I'm doing pretty good. Five years ago my life centered and revolved around sin and I didn't even know it.

Genesis 18:1 - The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.

 

[GodsMinnie]

I think medidation is great, it helps you calm down. For me when I am having a hard time with something when I meditate on the Lord and on his Word he speaks to me and I can actually hear clearly what I am to do.
Sometimes I just find myslef sitting in awe of him and dont have nothing to say but think about him and it just makes my day that much better. I have to discipline myslef to be in him on a daily basis and since I have been doing this it is becoming neccessary for me.....I cant go through the day without bein in him.....I thirst for him.
God Bless You

 

[CanOfPop]

When I want to get in some good meditation time, I'll pray for the Holy spirit to guide me as I read the Bible, to help me fully understand what's being said. Take a deep breath and read slowly to focus on the word, otherwise if you're just trying to get through it, you might not get anything out of it. Then I will usually close my eyes after and contemplate everything. Which sounds like a good idea to do right about now.

 

[JPPT1974]

It is through prayer, bible study, and
Just leaning on the Lord for His will and way
We are conformed in His image and being
More like Him in His ways!

 

[Prodigal7]

Various meditative musings.......

Here is an interesting passage from Revelations which seems to indicate that God does not mind contemplative prayer.



Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come.

It seems that God enjoys our praises and our contemplation of him. Below is another verse that jumped of the page at me when I first read it.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seeks him.

To me, living by faith doesn't always mean this life is a cake walk. Sometimes it is just the opposite. Further along in Hebrews this one jumps off the page.

Hebrews 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted they were strangers and aliens on earth.

Sometimes I feel like an alien on this Earth. It is not easy to follow God in this age of instant news, materialism, and greed. It takes work and effort.



1 John 1:8 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in us.

That last verse hits like a hammer. If I could do this thing on my own why did Jesus have to die?? I like verses that hit like a sledge hammer. I guess I'm hard headed.

Jeremiah 3:23 "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding"

"Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God."

It's good to know I'm not the only backslider. Jeremiah was some 600 years before Christ. I guess backsliding has been going on a long time.

​

 

[GodsMinnie]

Amen to that Prodigal7 it is deffinately hard to make it in this world without the Lords help, this world is so harsh sometimes the world within itself helps me see how much better it is living for the Lord. It is hard but yet the rewards are great.........When we meditate on him he feels our Love I see him smiling down when i am thinking of him.
God Bless

 

[DailyBlessings]

Christian meditation is a wonderful activity to place oneself into- I find myself drifting in contemplative prayer often during the days of my Lenten fast, and it comforts me. Meditation has been a path to Christian understanding since before the Scriptures had yet been written down, and I can see nothing wrong with shutting out the wildness of the world for a while to contemplate on Christ. We must stop rushing, in order to hear the quiet but powerful voice of God.

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

[Prodigal7]

Thanks Daily Blessings for a great post. I was curious what verses those were that you quoted. I'd like to highlight them in my Bible.

I stumbled across a verse which seemed powerful to me.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.

Many times in the past I have dishonored my body and God through bad living. As I grow in my walk I'm making an attempt to treat my body like a temple.

I think the body and mind are linked. When I take care of myself I feel closer to God. I do feel like it honors God to try to stay in shape and maintain my body. I do walking meditation sometimes where I contemplate God while walking.

Psalm 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.

 

[Criada]

I find that as Jesus draws me closer to him, I spend less time praying in words and more time just being in his presence.

Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46:10

I have stilled and quietened my soul.. Psalm 131:2

Not sure whether this is strictly meditation, but it certainly helps to focus on what is important!

 

[DailyBlessings]

Thanks Daily Blessings for a great post. I was curious what verses those were that you quoted. I'd like to highlight them in my Bible.

You can find this passage in the 19th chapter of 1 Kings... Peace be with you!

 

[Godsgurl4evr]

What exactly is christian prayer? Is it just regular prayer but more complex?​

 

[Bramage]

When you come to truly realize the love of Jesus, we no longer think of issues as work and discipline, rather, with the acknowledgement that Jesus is the one who is able to save mankind from himself, we become a labor of love for God.

It is by means of the love within the storehouse of our hearts, that we are able to connect with Him. When we bring forth goodness from the storehouse of all that is good in our hearts, we are able to walk every step with Jesus, however small the goodness or gift it is we bring forth to the world.

It is not the size of the gift, rather it is the 'willingness' to give, which is important, for it is our heart that Jesus is looking apon, that He is able to lift us out of the spiritual poverty that many find themselves in.

In time, it is a willingness of love which we become, rather than a difficult task or work. It is the love within that is connected to Jesus and the present and future of mankind which is responsible for our becoming the divine will of God, as God's children of the light.

Do not bring trouble to your place of rest or meditation.

I think we should bring mercy to ourselves, much the way we would bring it to Jesus. As we become stronger, thru providing for ourselves, then we are able to assist others.

Respect yourself first, in order to remain strong for Jesus, and able to bring about the divine will of God.

 

[Taylor43]

I love to meditate on scriptures and on nature. I see nothing wrong unless you add new age ways It is ok to meditate but do pray and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

 

[kindlychung]

It's good to know I'm not the only backslider. Jeremiah was some 600 years before Christ. I guess backsliding has been going on a long time.

When I made mistakes and felt like hiding away as Adam did after eating the forbidden fruit, I would use the example of Peter to encourage myself. If God didn't forsake the Peter who denied him three times, I have all the reasons to go to Him. Because of the love of God, we always have hope. And it's never late to repent for one who loves God.

 

[kindlychung]

What exactly is christian prayer?

Sister, perhaps you meant to ask what exactly christian meditation is.
I am not quiet sure, but in my impression, it's a kind of deep thinking.