Christian meditation is a form of prayer that helps you cultivate a closer relationship with God. It’s a simple practice that many Christians use to deepen their faith and to grow in love, gratitude, and humility.
Meditation may also support emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
Browse our Christian meditation guide, where we answer the question, what does the Bible say about meditation, so you can learn how to meditate as a Christian and grow your faith.
What Is Christian Meditation?
Meditation has been a part of Christianity since its beginnings. Meditation is mentioned many times in the Old Testament and you’ll find a number of written meditations and prayers.
In the New Testament, the Gospels describe Jesus withdrawing to pray in quiet places.
Christian meditation implies that you’re practicing meditation within the context of your Christian beliefs. Some common goals of Christian meditation include:
- Creating space to hear God speak
- Increasing your awareness of God’s presence
- Deepening your relationship with God and God’s word
- Increasing love, compassion, and gratitude
- Taking attention away from the self
This differs from other types of meditation like mindfulness meditation, mantra meditation, or Metta meditation. The main focus of Christian meditation is going to be on the word of God and filling your mind with the truth of God’s words.
How to Practice Christian Meditation?
Practicing Christian meditation doesn’t have to be difficult. If you already have an ongoing religious practice, then you can integrate meditation in a few simple steps.
The easiest way to practice Christian meditation is by using the scripture or Biblical words and phrases as your focal point. This will act as the guiding light of your meditation and help to direct your practice.
Below you’ll learn how you can start your own Christian meditation practice.
Creating a safe and comfortable environment
When practicing any form of meditation it’s important that you feel comfortable, safe, and are free from distraction. This will help you relax and go deeper into your practice.
You can meditate anywhere, but it can be helpful to create a space in your home dedicated to meditation. Fill your space with items that you’ll draw inspiration from like the Bible, candles, symbols of the Trinity, and images of Jesus.
Some Christian meditators find it helpful to meditate outside, since being around nature can make it easier to feel connected to God.
Preparing for Christian Meditation
To prepare for your meditation you’ll want to center yourself and connect with your intention of being closer to God. This is done by focusing on the presence of God or reading scripture.
Before you begin your meditation you’ll want to relax your body and mind. The simplest way to do this is through guided relaxation meditation or deep breathing.
When you’re in a relaxed state of mind you’ll find it much easier to focus on your meditation.
Using different techniques and methods of Christian Meditation
There are a few different Christian meditation techniques you can practice.
The most common is contemplative prayer, one of the oldest forms of Christian prayer. It often involves silently repeating a sacred word or biblical phrase as a way of resting your attention in God.
Another common form is Lectio Divina, a practice with roots in the Benedictine tradition whose name translates to divine reading, or holy reading. Here you choose a short passage from the scripture, read the passage deeply, meditate on the passage, and pray to God.
Christian meditation practices can also be combined with forms of mindfulness meditation. This helps you build the presence and focus necessary to deepen your connection to God.
The beauty of mindfulness meditation is it’s a secular practice, so it can be paired with any religious or spiritual practice.
Taking your time and adjusting your practice
When getting started with Christian meditation it’s important to start small and grow your practice with time. Even a few minutes in quiet contemplation can help to lay the foundation for a spiritually enriching practice.
Give yourself time to develop the habit of meditation. Once you are meditating consistently for 5 minutes daily, you can gradually increase this time.
Benefits of Christian Meditation
Christian meditation not only has a positive impact on your religious life, but its benefits extend to all other areas of your life too. The following are some of the main benefits people report from a regular Christian meditation practice.
Improved mental and physical health
Meditation can help to calm your mind, reduce anxiety, and lower stress. Meditating on a consistent basis can improve your focus, which allows you to more deeply contemplate the word of God.
Some research connects meditation with physical health, and many people find that relaxation helps their sleep.
Increased spiritual connection with God
Christian meditation can help guide you into a deeper understanding of and connection to God’s word. It can be used as a way to dig deeper into the scripture and truly understand and experience God’s presence.
A regular meditation practice puts the busyness of the world on hold and gives you time every day to grow closer to God.
A lot of meditation practices offer benefits, even when the practice is complete. With Christian meditation, you’re more aware of the presence of God throughout your daily life. This is a way to commune with God during every moment of your day.
Enhanced self-awareness
Meditation can help you live fully in the present moment. For many Christians, accepting the present moment fully means receiving each moment as a gift from God.
Over time, resistance may ease and you may find it easier to live without wishing that things were different.
Regular meditation practice helps to improve awareness of your thoughts and emotions. With a clearer perspective, you may be less troubled by ruminative thinking and more able to experience each moment.
The Role of Prayer in Christian Meditation
With Christian meditation, you’ll often include a form of prayer during your meditation. This helps to connect you to God and give your meditation a point of focus.
Before you begin your meditation it’s helpful to think about prayer before you start. Is there something specific you want to pray to God about? Your prayers will probably change every day, and that’s completely normal.
Christian meditation will often involve prayer, verses, and silent contemplation.
With an intention set, you can choose a verse, word, or prayer to begin your meditation. Over time, you’ll memorize certain prayers and verses and it’ll be easier to focus on the true meaning, instead of simply getting the words right.
When you’re just getting started meditating on Biblical phrases or words can be effective too. Some examples of sacred words or phrases include:
- Jesus
- Peace Be Still
- The Lord is My Shepherd
- Trust God
- God’s grace
The further you progress in your meditation practice, the more attuned you’ll be to God’s word and will.
Tips to Beginners For Effective Christian Meditation
Christian meditation is a very personal practice, and many Christians understand it as guided by God’s will. Don’t worry about getting things right, instead focus on committing to showing up every day.
Explore the following tips to more easily establish a Christian meditation practice that works for you.
Slow down
You’ll want to try to come into your meditation in a calm state. The simplest way to achieve this is with a mindful breathing practice.
Mindful breathing helps to calm the nervous system and reduce stress, which makes meditation much easier.
Get comfortable
You can meditate in many positions including seated, kneeling, standing, lying down, and even walking. The most important thing is your body is relaxed, but not too relaxed that you fall asleep.
Start a simple, daily mindfulness practice
Having a daily mindfulness practice helps to ground you in your physical body in the present moment. This can help to slow your racing mind and accept your present circumstances.
It can also be helpful to incorporate gratitude into your daily practice. Many Christians see whatever they’re experiencing as a gift from God. Moving into gratitude can put you in a loving and receptive state, which can make meditation easier.
Meditate with your partner
Meditating with your partner will help to bring accountability to your practice, which can help make meditation a habit.
It also helps to build a deeper bond of compassion, gratitude, and love between you and your partner.
Open your eyes
Some people find that meditating with eyes closed can be distracting. One alternative is to meditate with your eyes open with a relaxed gaze.
This can also help you merge your meditation practice with your daily life, making it easier to carve out time to meditate.
Conclusion
Learning how to meditate on God is a practice that can deepen your faith and may also support your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
Of course, the most important part of your meditation practice is making a commitment and getting started today.
Starting with something as small as a few minutes of quiet contemplation can lay the groundwork for a lifelong practice.