How to Meditate as a Christian

Many modern-day Christians believe that meditation is associated with eastern religions, involving chakras and various cross-legged lotus positions. As a result, they’ve shunned this practice even though several great Christian writers and preachers have suggested it for all believers.

How to Meditate as a Christian

If you’re past the modern-day stigma and want to adhere to Biblical meditation, here are 6 tips to help you meditate as a Christian.

Tip # 1: There Are No Rules

Christian meditation has no rules and formulas. It’s about believing in God and feeling His presence. According to blogger Leah Bulfin, “There’s no power in whether you sit a certain way or hold your hands a certain way. The power is truly just in the act of coming to meet with God and spend time with Him.”

Therefore, how you come to God isn’t important, but you must come to Him! Whether you decide to meditate in your balcony, your bedroom, or a faraway place is entirely up to you. What matters is that you feel nearness to God.

If you wish to learn about daily meditation, do read Yes, and…: Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr O.F.M. This book features daily meditations to help Christians understand the methodology and process of meditation.

Tip # 2: One Simple Goal

Keep your aim simple. Instead of having lofty goals such as gaining prophetic insights or changing your character overnight, focus on feeling God’s presence. Empty your mind, forget your to-do list, and become still with God. Entering a spiritual space where God lives is the main goal for Christian meditation!

If you wish to learn ancient methods of Christian meditation, our best pick for you is Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God by James Finley. This book is written by a former monk who presents the fundamentals of practicing Christian meditation.

Tip # 3: Creating an Appropriate Atmosphere

An appropriate atmosphere will help you stay calm and comfortable. Ask yourself what’s appropriate for you; your bedroom or an outdoor spot that reflects God’s wonders? We believe bedrooms won’t provide a peaceful atmosphere and make you sleepy. You might find it challenging to experience peace and God’s nearness if you’re meditating in your bedroom. Therefore, try connecting to God by surrounding yourself with nature! Meditate in a place where there are no distractions, no traffic noise, no phone calls, etc.

To find the traces of God in different places, read Finding God in Unexpected Places by Philip Yancey. This book serves as an insightful guide to Christians who’re seeking God beyond the obvious. It will help you acknowledge His glimpses in places where only a few would look.

Tip # 4: Set Aside Enough Time

Ensure you have enough time to make the most out of meditation. The more time you spend in the quietness, the more your mind will relax and experience His presence. Mediating for forty minutes is essential, but if you’re a beginner, you can start with twenty minutes because that’s the time it takes to become still and connect with God.

If you quit too soon, you’ll miss the insight and wisdom that Christian meditation brings about. Try to make meditation a daily habit, even if you’re a busy person. If you’re on holiday, ensure to take some time out for meditating.

Learn how meditation fits into Christianity and how it differs from praying by reading One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic’s Guide to Christian Meditation by J. Dana Trent. We suggest this book especially to those who’re skeptical about Christian meditation. With this guide, you’re likely to sustain Christian meditation in this chaotic world!

Tip # 5: Set a Timer!

Setting a gentle alarm will keep you from constantly checking your watch or phone during meditation. However, once you hear the bell, take a minute or two to gradually come back to your awareness. Don’t just hop up. Instead, end your meditation with a closing praying, showing your gratitude to the Lord.

To help engage your mind, body, and soul in Christian mediation, read A Counselor’s Guide to Christian Mindfulness: Engaging the Mind, Body, and Soul in Biblical Practices and Therapies by Dr. Regina Chow Trammel. It’s a therapeutic guide that teaches how to resolve your distress, traumas, and emotional issues through meditation!

Tip # 6: Invite God into the Meditation

While meditating, we must invite the Lord into our minds and hearts and into the time we’ve managed to take out for Him. Invite God into your spirit, asking Him to forgive the sins that separate you from Him. Be thankful for His blessings, and regret your sins, promising never to walk back on the path of the wrongdoers.

Inviting God into the meditation is crucial to meditate in a Christian way. Eventually, God will minister our hearts, enlightening our innermost being. That’s how true transformation takes place.

The Trinity sets apart Christian meditation from other meditations. It’s an avenue for us to be intimate and connected with our creator. Therefore, Christian meditation doesn’t empty you but fills you up with the presence of God.

To encourage you to meditate, we recommend reading Bible Meditation & Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to an Ancient Practice by Virginia Lefler. You’d be surprised how the Old and New Testament encourages Christians to meditate. It’s a book that will help you contemplate, reflect, and meditate as a Christian.

Our Final Thoughts

“But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” –Psalms 1:2-3

By practicing Christian meditation, you’re joining an incredible spiritual journey! It will discipline you and encourage you to walk on a path that leads to intimacy and unity with God. Meditate as a Christian, and you will surely prosper!