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Christians Should Practice Meditative Prayer

Christians Should Practice Meditative Prayer

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If we are not careful, the many of distractions of this world will drown out the quiet voice of God within our hearts and make us numb to our spiritual needs. 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 the refreshing presence of his Spirit. Never before has there been such a need to rediscover the quiet art of meditative prayer.

In personal prayer, we speak to God, but in meditative prayer, we allow God to speak to us through his Word and his Spirit. What do we mean by meditative prayer? Is there such a thing as Christian meditation? Isn’t meditation non-Christian? According to Richard Foster, “Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind.” Rather than emptying the mind, we fill it with God’s Word. We must not neglect a vital part of our Judeo-Christian heritage simply because other traditions use a form of meditation.

Meditation in the Bible

Christian meditation has its roots in the Hebrew tradition of the Bible. There are numerous Biblical references to prayerful meditation:

  • “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)

In Hebrew thought, to meditate upon scripture is to quietly repeat them, giving oneself entirely to God and abandoning outside distractions. The two main things we are told to meditate on are God’s Word and God’s goodness. Paul tells us, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever things are of good report… meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

We see the difference between the active and contemplative Christian life illustrated in the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard his Word, while Martha was distracted with much serving. Jesus said that Mary had chosen the best thing because she sat at his feet and was not distracted. Meditative prayer is exactly this: sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing his Word. This is a wonderful example of the art of meditative prayer. We must allow time to let the Lord speak to us through meditating on Him and his Word in prayer.

Steps for Meditative Prayer

    1. Designate a quiet place. In a world full of distractions, we need a quiet place where we can allow God to speak to us. Businessmen and women are comfortable in their offices for work. In the same way, the most effective place to pray is in your quiet place.
    2. Give yourself 20-30 minutes. Many people only spend a few minutes each day in prayer. Very few people actually spend time in meditative prayer. It takes time to drown out the cares of the world, sit and prayerfully meditate on God’s Word, and then allow Him to speak to us.
    3. Choose a scripture to prayerfully meditate. Prayerfully select a passage of Scripture that means something to you. Let it focus on the goodness of God, the promises of God, or the worship of God.
    4. Allow time for God to speak to you. This is the hardest part. Many people never hear the Lord speak to them simply because they don’t allow Him to. We need to allow time to sit and listen for the voice of the Lord. This was the difference between Eli and Samuel (1 Samuel 3). Samuel was open to hearing from the Lord. He said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”


Winfield Bevins is a church planting specialist who contributes regularly to Soul Care Collective. Thanks, Winfield!

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