Meditation and Christianity

Meditation is the most neglected practice in the daily life of the modern Christian because many Christians think of meditation as something associated with Eastern traditions or practices reserved for members of some secret societies or cult members. In reality, meditation affords Christians the opportunity to experience God beyond what the human brain can grasp, comprehend, or attain. Meditation serves as a gateway to God. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). There is nothing evil in meditation. In the Bible, Jesus said, "I and the Father are one" (John 30:10). Jesus and the Father are One in essence and nature. As human beings created in the image and likeness of God we are one with God and Jesus Christ in essence and nature, however, we often forget that God created us in His own image. We can only experience oneness with God through prayer and meditation. To born-again Christians, and true believers of Jesus Christ, meditation should be considered as contemplative prayer. This deep contemplative dimension of the Christian faith which has been neglected for so long, offers the best avenue to be “one with the Lord,” The meditative experience is indescribable. It is far above and beyond human thought, human feeling, intellectual memory, and human comprehension. Deep meditation delivers the feeling of peace and happiness that surpasses understanding. Meditation makes you feel good. You enjoy God through meditation. So, meditate, dwell with God and see how you feel. A critical review of important teachings in the Bible shows that Christians are instructed to meditate but does not tell us how to meditate. It is an irony because the Bible gives directions on how to pray, how to fast, and how to worship God, but not how to meditate. So how do we meditate as Christians? Because, meditation is a deep contemplative form of prayer we should do as Jesus instructed us to do. “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5-6). Meditation is a secret prayer; it is the practice of opening your heart and mind to God in secret. In his writings, Paul exhorts Christians to spend time to think, ponder, reflect, meditate on spiritual things; those things which are true, pure, noble, just, virtuous, lovely, of good report, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) As Christians, all you should do is to think, ponder, and contemplate on these things. Meditation is transformative; it enhances the new birth or re-birth that all sincere Christians pray for. Christians who combine daily prayers with meditation are always filled with the Holy Spirit, energized, anointed, and filled with love for God and fellow human beings who are all created in the image and likeness of God.