Christian Meditation Techniques

8 Techniques Used to Meditate, Renew Your Mind, & Draw Closer to God

Meditating on the Lord can be both simple and challenging. It involves being still and silent, which can be difficult due to our restless minds. However, with consistency, spending time with God through meditation can greatly enhance your spiritual life. Here are some common Christian meditation techniques to help you get started.

1. Using a Scripture or Sacred Word

The Bible teaches that abiding with Christ allows Him to abide with us (John 15). Meditating by silently repeating a sacred word, passage, or scripture with your breath helps focus on the present moment and God’s presence. Examples include “The Lord is my Shepherd” and “Peace be still.” John Main recommended “Maranatha,” meaning “Come Lord Jesus.”

This practice anchors the mind, focusing on God’s presence. Meditate in silence or with soft music, using a timer. Focus on breathing and your chosen sacred word. Afterward, journal any impressions or words you receive.

Scripture and Sacred Word Meditation Steps:

1. Select a sacred word or scripture.
2. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
3. Focus on your breath and release tension.
4. Silently repeat your word or scripture with each breath.
5. Return to your word whenever your mind wanders.
6. Continue for 5-20 minutes.

Benefits:

• Embeds God’s Word in your heart.
• Enhances concentration on God’s presence.
• Promotes inner peace and clarity.

2. Guided Christian Meditations

Guided Christian meditations, often available on CDs or as downloads, are excellent for beginners. They typically start with relaxation exercises and include scriptural narratives or visualizations. Topics can range from trusting God for healing to releasing negative thoughts.

Guided meditations provide structure and stability, making them ideal for those new to meditation. Most guided meditation CDs start with relaxation exercises followed by a scriptural narrative. Some focus on biblical stories, while others offer visualizations like walking through nature or nailing your cares to the cross. They can cover a wide variety of topics to help you trust God for healing, control negative thoughts, or release painful memories. Guided meditations are beneficial for those who prefer specific themes in their Christian walk.

Guided Christian Meditation Steps:

1. Decide on the purpose for meditating.
2. Find a guided meditation on your specific topic.
3. Sit comfortably and follow the instructions of the narrator.
4. Continue until it ends.

Benefits:

• Great for beginners.
• Topic-specific guidance.
• Helps maintain focus and reduces wandering thoughts.

3. Meditating on God’s Word

Contemplative prayer, a practice used by Christian monks, involves selecting a short scripture and reflecting on it throughout the day. This helps internalize the scripture and apply it to your life.

Contemplative prayer involves choosing a short scripture or biblical passage and reflecting on it throughout the day. This practice helps internalize the scripture and make it relevant to your life. The monks would contemplate how the scripture applied to their behavior and what changes they needed to make. You can add this form of meditation to your daily devotion by selecting a passage, writing it down, and asking God to make it real to you. The passage will take on a life of its own as you meditate on it, transforming your mind and spirit.

Meditating on God’s Word Steps:

1. Select a scripture that resonates with you.
2. Write it down and read it slowly several times.
3. Reflect on its spiritual and practical meanings.
4. Think about it throughout the day.

Benefits:

• Internalizes God’s Word.
• Makes scripture practical to your life.
• Helps memorize scripture.
• Transforms and renews your mind.

4. Soaking in God’s Presence

For the past several years, I have hosted a Christian Meditation Retreat where we experience soaking in God’s presence. This practice involves being with God in a similar way to how Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden. Scriptures tell us that in God’s presence is fullness of joy.

Soaking in God’s presence means spending time just being with God, like soaking up all of His attributes. It’s a time of simply being in God’s presence, allowing His Spirit to fill you. This practice, along with other forms of Biblical meditation, provides various tools to quiet the mind, tame emotions, awaken the spirit, and subdue the flesh. It helps manage thoughts and actions, promoting ongoing spiritual growth.

Soaking  in God’s Presence Steps:

1. Set aside 30-60 minutes to be with God.
2. Select soft music or a soaking meditation.
3. Create a comfortable spot to lie down.
4. Support yourself with blankets and pillows if desired.
5. Turn on music or meditation and allow God’s presence to fill you.

Benefits:

• Just being and abiding with Christ.
• Experience Christ’s presence and love.
• Promotes relaxation.
• Melts away cares and worries.
• Doesn’t require a guided meditation or script.

5. The Jesus Prayer Meditation

The Jesus Prayer Meditation, rooted in early church tradition, involves silently repeating “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy upon me” with your breath. This can be enhanced with prayer beads. As you inhale, repeat the prayer, and as you exhale, either add “a sinner” or continue with the same phrase. The early desert Christians sought a continuous, inner prayer, settling on this phrase for its profound simplicity and depth, invoking God’s presence and mercy, and fostering humility and dependency on Him.

Jesus Prayer Meditation Steps:

1. Sit comfortably in a distraction-free environment and close your eyes.
2. Focus on your breath, perform a quick body scan, and release any tension.
3. Slowly and silently repeat the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me” (you can add “a sinner”). Repeat the phrase with your breath or use prayer beads.
4. When your mind wanders, return to the prayer (and beads if using).
5. Continue for 5-20 minutes.

Benefits:

• Invokes God’s presence
• Experience Christ’s love
• Seeks God’s mercy
• Reflects early desert saints’ practice
• Purifies the heart

6. Prayer Bead Meditation

Prayer Bead Meditation is a newer practice I’ve developed. Using beads, I recite scripture slowly, one word per bead. Any scripture that comes to mind is used, believing it’s divinely chosen for the moment. This practice combines scripture meditation with the tactile focus provided by beads, offering an enjoyable and anchored meditation experience.

Prayer Bead Meditation Steps:

1. Make or purchase prayer beads.
2. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
3. Focus on your breath and release tension.
4. Silently repeat a scripture, one word per breath, moving a bead forward with each completion.
5. Return to the scripture and beads if distracted.
6. Continue for 5-20 minutes.

Benefits:

• Hides God’s Word in your heart
• Meditates on scripture
• Focuses on God’s presence
• Provides a tactile anchor
• Enjoyable craft and meditation

7. Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation involves being present to your feelings, sensations, and environment. Your breath is the anchor. When thoughts arise, notice them without judgment, then return to your breath. This secular practice helps train the mind, detach from unproductive thoughts, and promote relaxation and stress relief.

Mindfulness Meditation Steps:

1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
2. Focus on your breath and release tension.
3. Use your breath as an anchor when the mind wanders.
4. Notice thoughts without judgment, then return to your breath.
5. Continue for 5-20 minutes.

Benefits:

• Detaches from negative thoughts
• Trains the mind
• Promotes relaxation and stress relief

8. Joining a Meditation Group

Joining a Christian Meditation Group, like those through the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM), offers communal meditation, instruction, and accountability. Groups typically meet weekly for teaching and meditation, fostering spiritual growth and collective worship. If no groups are available, consider starting one with resources from WCCM.

Join a Meditation Group Steps:

1. Search for local Christian meditation groups.
2. Attend regularly.
3. Maintain practice at home.
4. Join retreats and workshops.

Benefits:

• Group instruction
• Meditate with like-minded believers
• Corporate meditation power
• Motivation and accountability

Meditation enhances our relationship with God, helping us adopt His character and calm our thoughts. Techniques like the Jesus Prayer, Prayer Bead Meditation, and Mindfulness Meditation offer various approaches to experiencing God’s presence, reflecting on scripture, and promoting mental well-being. Joining a meditation group can provide additional guidance and communal support. Explore different methods to find what resonates with you and deepen your spiritual practice. Browse our Product Library for Christian meditation resources, including courses, books, and more.