When you practice Christian meditation, you're focusing on a religious element as you meditate. You might focus on a Bible verse or a Christian value. Meditating is a way to spend time with God and be intentional with that time. It helps you become more aware of God and his word by focusing your mind on a specific concept. You might choose one way to practice Christian meditation or incorporate several different options into your day. Here are some techniques for practicing Christian meditation.
If you're new to meditation in general, you might not be sure where to start. Using guided meditation is an easy way to begin. You can find written or audio guided meditations that focus on Christian concepts. They walk you through the process by providing the ideas and helping you process and be mindful of them. You can find guided Christian meditations on a wide variety of topics. It's a quick way to get started and help you process a particular issue you're dealing with. You can repeat the same guided meditation every day or pick new ones each time, depending on your needs and where you want to focus your attention.
Meditation often involves repeating a short passage or phrase you want to focus on. To add a Christian element to it, choose a Bible verse that's particularly meaningful to you or helpful in your current situation. You can meditate on the entire passage or just a few words from it that capture its essence.
Once you choose your passage, find a quiet spot to sit and reflect. Focus on letting God into your heart as you repeat the verse or phrase in your head. Pay attention to your breathing, keeping it slow and controlled. Repeat the verse in your head as you breathe. Your mind might start to wander or think about other things. Gently redirect it back to your meditation by again repeating the phrase.
If you don't like the idea of traditional meditation, pick a favorite Christian song to help you tune into God and invite him into your heart. Choose a song with meaningful lyrics based on how you want to explore your Christianity. You might also select a song that calms you or speaks to a current difficult situation.
Put on your headphones and close your eyes as you listen to the song. Control your breathing as you listen, and focus on the lyrics to truly embrace the idea of the song. You can listen to the song on repeat if you want to continue the session. Or you can choose a full playlist of Christian songs to meditate on a variety of concepts in one session.
Meditation doesn't have to be one focused session where you're sitting still and repeating a Christian concept in your head. You can meditate on God's word throughout the day. Choose a passage or idea for the day. Contemplate that idea periodically as you go about your day. You might ask God to help you realize that passage in your real life. If you find yourself getting caught up in the commotion of your day, bring yourself back to your passage to recenter yourself and bring God back as the focus.
You might choose to meditate over a prayer. This option works best with a shorter prayer you can easily repeat. Find a quiet spot and repeat the prayer over and over. Focus on the words and the meaning of the prayer. You can create your own prayer or find a prayer you love to use with this meditation practice. You can also incorporate prayer beads into this meditative practice. This can give you something to do with your hands and help you stay focused on the task.
You can also meditate by simply sitting quietly and inviting God into your heart. Set aside at least 30 minutes to sit with God. Keep your mind calm and allow your thoughts to turn to God however they naturally evolve. You might find yourself feeling closer to God if you do this meditation practice in nature. You're surrounded by God's creations and might feel calmer and more focused outdoors. This practice can also help you feel grateful for what God has provided.
