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What is Christian meditation? Can prayer be a form of meditation?
When you hear the word “meditation,” your mind probably jumps to Buddhism or Hinduism. However, Christian prayers are another form of meditation that’s often overlooked. Whether you want to refer to written prayers or come up with your own, praying has many benefits.
Keep reading to learn how praying is a form of meditation.
Christian Meditation
What is Christian meditation? Meditation can be a form of prayer—a means of getting closer to God. In this article, we’ll discuss how Christian prayer specifically can be a form of meditation, with all of the associated benefits.
Background: Christian Beliefs
Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God and God’s will given human form. In the Christian religion, the only way to be saved (to reach heaven) is to pray and follow God and Jesus’s teachings. Prayer is the act of communicating with God, either directly or through an intermediary such as Jesus or a saint.
Christian minister Norman Vincent Peale (The Power of Positive Thinking) says that faith in God and prayer result in a greater sense of well-being, robust health and energy, and a stronger sense of purpose in the world. He also notes that the power of prayer can slow the aging process, helping you keep youthful energy as you age. Finally, prayer can help keep your spirits up, send you out each morning feeling refreshed and renewed, guide you in solving problems, and help you react properly to what’s happening around you.
Prayer
Christianity has many formalized prayers, but you can also speak to God in your own words—what matters most is that you keep your attention on God and have absolute faith that He will protect and guide you.
In Seeking Wisdom, teacher and self-help author Julia Cameron describes two different types of prayer that you could start with:
Prayers of Request
A request prayer is when you ask God for something, such as inspiration or a new friend. Request prayers are crucial because they’re how you receive God’s guidance—you make your request, then you listen for the response.
God’s responses can come in many forms, like a gut feeling, a new opportunity, or an abrupt change in your circumstances—you must listen to the signs and trust your intuition about what they mean. Sometimes God’s response won’t be what you wanted or expected, but above all else, you must trust Him.
Prayers of Appreciation
Prayers of appreciation involve expressing gratitude for the things you have, the guidance you’ve been given, and God’s gifts. These prayers are important because they bring you feelings of prosperity and abundance that will attract even more positivity and abundance back to you. Praying about the things you appreciate helps reinforce your belief in the innate goodness of God and the world.
To begin expressing your appreciation through prayer, you could observe the beauty of nature. When you observe things like green grass, intense snowstorms, and rumbling rivers, you often enter a state of awe, which is a great starting point for prayer. Use the energy of awe to express your gratitude for God’s beautiful gift of nature.
Once you’re in the practice of expressing your appreciation, try adding a few specific topics into your prayers: For example, you might thank God for other people, miraculous events, or experiences of serendipity.
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Here's what you'll find in our full The Master Guides: Choosing a Meditation Practice summary:
- The best, time-tested advice on meditation from meditation experts
- A look at each of the four major meditation traditions
- How to choose a meditation practice that's right for you and your lifestyle
