Seven Benefits of Abiding In God's Presence
Christian meditation is a wonderful way to abide in God’s presence. Do you want to start your practice, but are not sure where to start? In this article, learn about the benefits of christian meditation and abiding in God’s presence, as well as selecting the perfect guided meditation for you.
Can abiding in God’s Presence and meditating on God’s Word in silence really benefit your life and walk with the Messiah? Below you will learn just a few ways that Christian meditation can improve your life!
1. Enjoy greater peace of mind by eliminating worrisome and negative thoughts.
The scriptures tell us to cast down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. The problem is that many believers have chronically negative thought lives that they may not even be aware of and that may be contributing to depression, anxiety, and other toxic emotions. Through Biblical meditation you will become the observer of your mental chatter and learn how to cast down or eliminate destructive or negative thinking and replace them with God’s Word.
2. Create more balance to carry out your values and nurture your whole self.
Busyness is not an attribute of the Most High. We create a hectic lifestyle when we try to accomplish more than we are mentally and physically capable. Even just stepping off the treadmill of life can be extremely daunting. When we’re so used to striving and struggling, we miss out on the opportunity to gain greater balance and make decisions not based upon urgency, but on the values and yearnings of our own heart. Christian meditation creates that space we need to stop and listen to God and Ourselves. God tells us to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. What better way than to incorporate a regular Date with God and Biblical Meditation Practice.
3. Develop a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and learn to discern His voice, leading, and promptings.
Our Savior often speaks to His children in a still small voice through impressions, promptings, inspiration, and circumstances. However, if we’re too distracted to listen or our lives are filled with constant noise and activity, we can miss out on important messages from Him. Biblical meditation creates quiet moments that give the Holy Spirit room to speak to us and gives us that divine guidance we need to navigate successfully through life.
4. Live with more joy and contentment WITHOUT changing your circumstances.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 declares, “But Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Do you find yourself seeking after the things of this world for peace, joy, or contentment? If so, you are not alone. The enemy has deceived believers and unbelievers alike that happiness is acquired by obtaining material goods, relationships, and things outside of God’s Kingdom. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Peace, joy, and contentment come from abiding and trusting in God. When we enter into God’s Presence something supernatural happens. We can’t “be with God” and not be changed. Little by little the rudiments of this world begin to dissolve and we are able to walk in God’s peace and joy WITHOUT any changes to our circumstances.
5. Alleviate stress and other stress related illnesses.
In recent years, the interest in various forms of meditation have skyrocketed with doctors, celebrities, and health professionals touting the many mental and physical benefits of a regular meditation practice, and you know what? Studies have proven that it’s true. If you need a free and quick way to reduce stress, look no further. What makes Biblical meditation even more beneficial is that you’re meditating on God’s Word with the intention of experiencing His manifest presence.
6. Develop greater intimacy with God and increased wisdom.
The Bible says that when we draw close to God that He draws closer to us. The Most High said, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” Many believers don’t make intimacy with God a priority. They think that going to church and hearing a sermon is all they need to do to fulfill their Biblical duty. The fact you’re at this website probably means that you’re looking for more that just a church or surface relationship with God. You most likely want to know and experience God in a deeper and more intimate way. As you spend time with God just abiding with Him and meditating on His Word, you are literally transformed and God’s Presence will become more real to you than ever before. Our Savior said in Matthew that we can’t put new wine (thoughts) into old wine bottles (mind-sets) without corrupting the old batch. If we are to fully embrace the Scriptures, we must pull up the weeds of doubt, fear, and unbelief.
7. Bring Your Flesh Under the Authority of the Most High
Sometimes we just need to say NO to our flesh, but that can be difficult if its been holding the reins for so long. Unwanted habits and addictions, even chronic negativity, are all signs that your flesh may be out of control. Subduing the flesh first begins with subduing the mind and its impulse thoughts that often play like a background record in our subconscious mind. Your thoughts have created your current reality because thoughts are things and the longer we meditate on specific circumstances (whether good or bad) the quicker they come into fruition. Biblical meditation can help you bring your flesh under subjection as you learn to notice, release, and then eliminate or replace compulsive thinking with God’s Word.
“Christian meditation allows you to take the reins and direct your own thoughts back where they belong: under the authority of the Savior and His Word.”
Is Christian Meditation Really Helpful and How?
I can honestly admit that Christian meditation changed my life! There are many forms of meditation so I am not suggesting that you do one form or another, but meditation in general has so many helpful benefits that it’s unfortunate that everyone does not do meditation.
Just yesterday I completed a webinar on the Transformative Power of Meditation. In this webinar, I discussed how we spend so much time cleansing our outer bodies, our homes, and even our offices, but very little time is devoted to cleansing our inner being and spirit.
Now just imagine if you didn’t clean your body or home for 30 years! Depending upon how old you are, you may have 30-years of accumulated mental debris and clutter, destructive thoughts, toxic emotions, fears, worries, past hurts, pains, and the like, taking up residence in your inner spirit, mind, and heart. We think because we can’t see them that we’re clean and okay, but nothing could be further from the truth. They’re just hidden in our subconscious mind and are having an invisible influence on us. Many people may refer to this as baggage!
Meditation is like the door to the soul. When we become still and quiet, all of that baggage may seep up to the surface of our consciousness making us aware that it’s still there. As it does, we can begin to deal with it and not just slip it back under the rug. Many people fear the quiet or being alone because they don’t want to have to face their inner demons, but they are not demons at all. Instead, they are the parts of you that want to heal and are saying, “Look at me, I need your attention!”
There are many tools to help us move past our pain, but that is a whole topic on its own. Meditation brings awareness and when we have awareness we can change those things in our life that are out of balance or not working for us.
This is just one of the helpful benefits, but there are so many more: it creates peace of mind, reduces stress, and draws us closer to God.
Benefits of Christian Meditation Are Numerous
If you are like most believers you might be thinking “meditate!”, isn’t that for monks and those associated with Eastern religions? The benefits of christian meditation for many modern day believers is relatively unknown. Yet, thorough research will show that Christian meditation is nothing new. You can find numerous books, websites, and articles on this subject alone.
However, our greatest incentive for Christ-centered meditation can be found right in the Bible. Joshua said in 1:8 that if we meditate on God day and night that we will have success and prosperity in life. Psalms 16:11, tells us that in God’s presence is fullness of joy. But what does it really mean to meditate on God and what are the benefits of Christian meditation?The synonyms for meditate are: reflect, pray, ponder, muse, ruminate, cogitate, study, think, and contemplate.
Therefore, when we integrate the word meditation with Christian, Biblical meditation is simply the practice of reflecting, musing, pondering, and contemplating God, his principles, his word, and his presence. It is generally referred to as a method used to quiet our minds so we can move from knowing about God to knowing and experience God in a personal way. One of the most common ways Christians meditate is to focusing on a scripture or biblical word that helps them to silence their thoughts, thus creating a greater opportunity to hear God and connect with the Holy Spirit living within them.
For many Christians, incessant thinking, negative and fear-based thoughts, hectic schedules, and secular philosophies interfere with developing an intimate relationship with the Lord. As we move further from a genuine relationship with Christ, our Christian walk becomes less fruitful and we become much more susceptible to depression, stress, fear, and a host of other toxic emotions. Instead of becoming more Christ-centered and putting our faith and trust in God, we begin relying on our human wisdom and efforts. Overtime this creates weariness, disillusion, and burn-out. Spending time with God in silence and reflection is one way we can guard our hearts and keep our minds centered on Christ. Believers who incorporate Christian meditation into their daily lives begin to experience a deeper relationship with God, a renewed mind, mental and emotional well-being, and a host of other benefits.
Benefits of Christian meditation include:
Studies show that 95% of all diseases are worsened by stress. Stress has become the underlying precursor of most illnesses. Meditation is one of the best methods to reduce or alleviate stress in your mind and body. Many doctors are now encouraging their patients to incorporate meditation in their lives.
Control Negative Thinking– What is the greatest battle of every believer? It is the battle of the mind. Jesus emphasizes throughout the scripture that we must RENEW our minds. Our minds are wicked, depraved, deceived, easy lead astray, worldly, sinful, and create constant inner conflict. For further study read the following scriptures: Romans 1:28, Ephesians 4:23, 2 Corth 11:3, Romans 12:2, Romans 7:21-23. If you are not in control of your thoughts, then they are in control of you. Many believers suffer from negative thoughts and compulsive thinking. That means they can’t turn off the faucet of thoughts parading around in their heads. Their mind goes on and on like a broken record. It interferes with their sleep. It causes them to live in a state of worry, anger, need, and other toxic emotions. It robs them of God’s peace. Practicing regular meditation teaches believers to quiet their minds, disidentify with their thoughts, and clear their mental path to God.
Maintain Peace of Mind- Have you ever turned your cares over to God only to take them back several hours or days later? You didn’t want them back. You made an honest effort to let them go, but before long they crepted back in again stealing your peace. This was a vicious cycle for me. It was only through Christ-centered meditation that I got my mind back. Before that, I was a slave to worry, fear, and depression.
Create the Life you Want -Are you living the life of your dreams? Most people would say “no, way.” But I’m here to tell you that “Yes, you are!” Why, because “as a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Your current thoughts and meditations (what you focus on) has created the very life you are living at this present moment. If this isn’t the dream you had in mind, meditation will help you to recognize those thoughts that are keeping you stuck. Once you know what you’re constantly thinking about, you can challenge, alter, and eliminate debilitating or destructive thinking.
More Intimacy with God– Does God seem like a distant force in the universe? You have a personal relationship with Christ but maybe you’re feeling a little disconnected from Him lately. That joy you felt when you were first saved is but a flickering light. Psalms 46:10 tells us to “Be still and…know God.” The scripture also says, “in God’s presence is fullness of joy.” If you want to experience a deeper relationship with God, meditation can help you to enter into God’s presence and abide in his love.
Greater Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit– Has the voice of God become dull in your life? Throughout scripture when God had something to say to an individual, he spoke in a still, small voice. If your mind is filled with mental chatter, God’s word is going to be drowned out most of the time. Getting still before the Lord in meditation will help you to quiet your thoughts and create a greater sensitivity to God’s voice.
Overcome Habits and Destructive Behaviors– Trying to overcome habits and other addictive behaviors? Most people are always gravitating to something to make them feel better. I call it self-medication. We have a problem being still with our own thoughts. We’re afraid of where they might lead us, especially if we’ve buried years of hurt and pain. Regular meditation can help you to break the cycle of looking outside of God’s spirit in you for happiness. It can help you to release the restlessness that causes you to seek fulfillment in all the wrong places: food, drinks, church (yes even church), relationships, recreation, power, things, money, and more.
What Else Does the Bible Say About Christian Meditation? There are numerous scriptures and references to Christian meditation in the Bible. A few more to consider are: Psalms chapter 4: 4 that persuades us, “When you are in your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” David desired in Psalms 104: 34, that his “meditations be pleasing to the Lord.” Isaiah declared in Chapter 50:4, “He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” Moses spent 40 days on the mountain abiding and learning from God (Exodus 34-35). Paul received revelation and saw visions from heaven (2 Corinthians 12). John wrote visions that are recorded in the book of Revelations.
I believe that is was during times of Biblical meditation that the disciples and prophets received many of their visions and revelations from God. The Bible says even Jesus spent hours alone with God daily (Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35). Our greatest inspirations and truths come during times of quietness, stillness, openness, and reflection- all components and benefits of Christian meditation.
Selecting the Right Guided Christian Meditation For You
Meditation isn’t just for monks and priests anymore, many Christians are also enjoying the benefits of spending time with God in quietness and solitude. Christian Guided Meditations take the guess work out of meditation by providing believers with a method of meditating on God that doesn’t contradict with their Christian faith. Most Christian Guided Meditation Cds or recordings include a progressive relaxation and scriptural narrative that includes biblical stories, relevant scriptures, positive affirmations, and relaxing music.
It is important that the Christian Guided Meditation Cd, mp3, or recording you choose begins with brief relaxation exercises that prepare you to receive God’s word. Deep breathing exercises that engage your diaphragm are one of the best ways to relax not only your body, but your mind. Many guided meditations will have you inhale deeply, hold the breath for several seconds, and then exhale. Next, they guide you through relaxing each area of your body from your head down to your feet. Once you are relaxed, your subconscious mind is much more receptive to receive God’s words.
Christian guided meditation narratives can take many forms. Some meditation Cds contain biblical affirmations, these are positive statements based on God’s word. Others may weave a Bible story through the meditation based upon a specific topic. Some guided meditations are interactive; they have you performing various tasks during the meditation like walking through a valley, interacting with Jesus, or nailing your cares to a cross.
During Center Prayer, a silent form of meditation, you silently repeat a sacred word anytime your mind begins to wander. As someone who has been practicing Christian guided meditation for years now, over the past six months I have incorporated a Centering Prayer in my quiet meditation time with God. If you are interested in this type of Christian meditation technique, I highly recommend J. David Muysken’s book, 40 Days to a Closer Walk with God. It will teach you the technique of Centering Prayer as it deepens your walk with God. It’s a great daily devotional as the book is broken into 40 daily times with God. Another great resource for Centering Prayer is Praying the Psalms.
In Christian mantra meditation, you continually repeat a scripture phrase or word that helps to keep your mind anchored and present in God.
All of these meditation techniques help to promote a deeper relationship with God as well as the ability to control compulsive or negative thinking on demand. Christians who meditate regularly say they are more peaceful, calm, and possess more joy than when they did not meditate. Christian meditation is also a great stress reliever and has helped many believers overcome depression.
Christian guided meditation has a long history in the Christian faith. Many proponents of Christian meditation attest to the practice of Jesus, who spent time alone with God daily and the many scriptures that encourage believers to meditate on God.
Visit the Christian Meditator Store, it offers a large selection of Christian guided meditation Cds, Mp3s, books, downloads, videos, and other resources to enhance your Christian meditation experience.
