Christian meditation

[TomPinch]

Is there anyone here who practices Christian meditation / contemplation and can make suggestions for someone new to it?

While there are lots of meditation / mindfulness guides out there, I would prefer to draw on Christianity, which has 2,000 years of monastic tradition and contemplative practice behind it.

I do. Usually I use a short bit of Scripture, maybe a line or half a line from a psalm and sit in silence and let it roll around in my brain.
I need a quiet space and a comfy seat.

I use the 'Abide' app, which, while being a bit American, has lovely, contemplative sessions there which make a lovely start to my mornings!

On days I'm not working, I start the day with a bible study, but I don't have time when I'm at work - the abide app has customisable length sessions so I time one for the right length for my walk to work!

I do. I usually begin by consciously drawing near to God with thanksgiving and praise (Psalm 100:4, 95: 2-5) and then transition into worship, which is often silent or may involve praying in tongues.

Then I look up scripture, (with the prayer of Psalm 119: 18 in my heart, if not spoken aloud) maybe a short passage and read it slowly, thinking about each word and the totality. I often look up the original Hebrew / Greek for greater understanding. I find memorising it helps me to really focus, and has the added benefit of the passage always being ‘available’ to meditate on.

Other times I listen to anointed spontaneous worship to just be in His presence and focus on Him. I will post links to two of these below.

This one 👇🏻 is a solo worshipper, accompanying himself on the keyboard. It’s 25 minutes long and there is a very long introduction before he sings.

This corporate spontaneous worship is just under an hour. I tend to not look at the screen but just listen to and enter into the worship.

Also @TomPinch, you have probably seen it already, but just in case, I started a thread on meditating on scripture which you might find helpful.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/christian-mumsnetters/5258622-meditating-on-scripture

In all honesty it might be wise to work with a spiritual director as this is a path that draws many as a place to rest and visit but it is not the life for all.

Fr Richard Rohr offers an online resource called Center for Action and Contemplation. (Action and contemplation are the core aspects of the Franciscan charism which each Franciscan lives out depending on their vocation and call on their lives) It has a variety of resources including podcasts, daily meditations and books. Maybe start with that and see what resonates within you. https://cac.org/

It’s wonderful that you want to explore Christian meditation and contemplation. Scripture encourages us to meditate on God’s Word and His presence. Psalm 1:2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” Similarly, Philippians 4:8 reminds us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, and lovely. Slowly read a passage of Scripture, meditate on it, pray about what God is saying to you, and rest in His presence. Start with a short Psalm or a passage from the Gospels.
Choose word or phrase (like “Jesus,” “peace,” or “be still”) and sit in silence, repeating it in your heart to quiet your mind and focus on God. This is based on Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Breathe in and out while praying a short phrase, such as “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” (inhale), “have mercy on me, a sinner” (exhale). This echoes the prayer of the tax collector in Luke. Spend time reflecting on Scripture or God’s presence and journal your thoughts. This aligns with Psalm 19:14: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Take a slow walk in nature, thanking God for His creation and being mindful of His presence. Consider passages like Psalm 23 or Matthew 6:25-34 during your walk. Remember, the goal of Christian meditation is not to empty your mind but to fill it with God’s truth and draw closer to Him. Take it one step at a time and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you.

That's a lovely guide for meditation @PilgriminProgress

The best thing you can do is let the Holy Spirit be your guide. Do you trust God? Then pray on it and ask for Wisdom.

It is Him and Him alone who blesses us. We simply need to contemplate His words, digest them. We do not chant words over and over again like those in darkness.

Trust Him, and He will bless you