July 19, 2023
Have you ever found yourself needing spiritual guidance, but don’t know where to turn? Christian meditation is a perfect way to nurture your spirituality and help you come back to yourself while relying on scripture and prayer as your sources of support and guidance. Learn how to use routine Christian meditation for self-reflection and finding pure inner peace. The guide below will help you learn how to use the tools of Christian meditation to find lasting transformation in body, mind, and spirit.
Before you begin your meditation practice, take a moment to ask yourself what your intention is for the session. Do you want to commune with God? Connect with the divine? Reconnect with yourself? Understanding your goal and taking a few moments to reflect can get you in the right headspace for your meditation.
Before beginning your meditation practice, it’s important that you create a dedicated area and time for regular sessions. This will help to build up a routine and establish the habit of meditating regularly that is necessary for finding inner peace. Choose a comfortable spot in your home, such as a corner of your bedroom or living room, where you can sit quietly for at least 10-15 minutes without distractions. As you become better at staying focused during meditation, feel free to set aside longer periods of time if desired.
Setting aside a specific time for Christian meditation. Decide how often you want to meditate, and then create a schedule that sticks. For example, try making it part of your daily routine by setting aside 20 minutes in the morning or evening as a dedicated meditation period. Having this set time will help ensure that it becomes a habit, and that your practice develops over time.
Create a calm and quiet environment. A space without distractions, interruptions, and external noises. Choose a spot that brings you inner peace and comfort—whether it’s your own home, a church, or a nearby park. Once you find the right place, be sure to stay in that same spot every time you practice meditation so as to maximize its positive effects.
Now that you have chosen the right spot, it is time to get comfortable. Make yourself comfortable physically by sitting in a cross-legged position on the floor or on a yoga mat. You can also choose to sit in a chair instead if that works better for you. Close your eyes and take a a few deep breaths, and relax the different parts of your body as you gently exhale after each breath. It’s important to create a space of peace in order for your body and mind to be ready to receive the divine enlightenment Visualize any kind of energy flowing down from the heavens into your essence, spiritually grounding you. As it passes through you, notice how it fills you up with peace and joy. As doubts and worries naturally arise, gently let these thoughts pass by without attaching yourself to any particular thought.
Continue focusing on your breathing and the rhythm of each breath. This will help center you in the moment. As thoughts come into your mind, acknowledge them but don’t linger with them; let them go as soon as you realize what the thought is. Instead, focus specifically on your breathing and imagine the energy of peace that flows through each inhale and exhale. If other distractions pop up, refocus to the flow of energy moving throughout your body.
Next, clear your mind of all distracting or anxious thoughts. As you meditate, it’s important to let go of any worries or stress that you may have. While embodying the loving presence of God, take some time to be mindful and reflective on your present mental state. Acknowledge any negative thoughts or emotions that come up. Detach yourself from identifying with those feelings and simply observe them and let them drift away like a leaf on the wind. Imagine a protective loving light around you that will provide clarity, courage, and faith during your meditation session. As you become more experienced in meditating, find ways to quiet the chatter in your head without completely shutting it off.
Now, take a few moments to focus on the subject of your faith and clear your mind. Focus on a Christian theme such as love, peace, grace, or joy. Take a few deep breaths and bring yourself into “the present moment” — mindfulness. Continue to picture yourself being surrounded by God’s light and love as you begin your meditation.
Once your mind and body are relaxed and prepared, find a word or phrase from the Bible that speaks to you. Write the Scripture down or try to memorize it – whichever works best for you. This anchor scripture can provide a source of comfort and assurance during difficult times. As you meditate on this verse, you’ll find that ultimately your thoughts will be filled with the hope and peace that come from God’s word. The verse of the Scripture can be a short sentence such as “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) or a longer Scripture passage such as “The Lord is my Strength, I will not be afraid” (Isaiah 41:10). Take time to focus on the verse and what it means to you. Let its message sink into your heart, gradually finding greater peace as you do so.
The goal of Christian meditation is to focus on God’s word and let His wisdom sink in. Take time to go over the verse or phrase in your mind and connect it to your circumstances. Reflect on how God’s truth applies to your life and bring any worries, doubts or fears before Him. Then gradually let these feelings pass away as you gain a deep sense of inner peace.
Mindful concentration is the practice of focusing on only a few objects during meditation. This could be anything, from thoughts or feelings to breathing or counting a rosary. By engaging with scripture, personal affirmations, and silent prayers during your practice, you can further set yourself up for an experience of inner peace and reflectiveness. Let this serve as an open doorway for Christ’s peace to enter your spirit and fill your soul.
Rather than just repeating a Scripture verse over and over, try to engage with it. Reflect on what it means as it applies to a specific situation you need help with, allowing God’s word to transform you and speak directly to your heart. Ask God for insight into how the verse applies to your situation, what it is teaching you, and in what way will you apply the truth found in this verse. Be still and stay open-minded as answers may not come right away – trust that God will direct you and give you the grace to understand in His perfect timing.
Keep your attention focused on the desired outcome. Ask yourself what it is that you are looking to gain from this time of reflection and prayer. For me, I am always attempting to identify what I can control when in an uncomfortable situation. My goal is typically inner peace or mental healing. This purposeful intent puts all other thoughts aside and gives you something positive to focus on when the inevitable distraction arises. Visualize achieving this outcome as you meditate, letting go of the anxiety and stress that can often overload our minds.
Engage with the scripture as you continue focusing on your breathing. Bible verses and phrases are meditative and peaceful, and allow you to submerge in the calm presence of God. You can also include personal affirmations. Personal affirmations can be words or phrases that speak to your hopes and beliefs, such as “I am held by Jesus” or “Peace is in my soul.” Let yourself become still and listen to the voice of the Divine. During Christian meditation, you should also silently offer up a prayer directly to God; traditionally, this was called Contemplative Prayer.
During your meditation, offer a prayer to God asking for His guidance. Ask God to remove any inner turmoil and help you to find your answer so you can obtain your inner peace. Pray that He will guide your thoughts as you enter deeper into a meditative state.
As you end your meditation, express your gratitude to God. Say a prayer to God thanking Him for helping you to find an answer to your problem identifying what you can control and giving you a path to move forward. After expressing your faith and speaking with God and offering a “Thank you Prayer”. You’ll now feel more connected to Him and you’ll be ready to go back and face that cruel world again with faith in hand.
Searching for inner peace through Christian meditation can be a powerful and transformational experience. Taking the time to dedicate yourself to reflecting on scripture while addressing an unpleasant situation can bring you clarity and a renewed sense of faith. The steps above should help you create a centered mindset focused on connecting with the divine – our God and Creator.
I’m Lori Stith, The Stoicess
Your Christian Life Coach
AND I believe in YOU!
If you like what you mentally, now see, join my website to learn and think like me at StoicMatchmaker.com.
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