I recently listened to a podcast that encouraged a simple way to meditate as a way to find peace and deal with the recent pandemic-induced* anxieties. It made me consider: how should we, as Christians, meditate? Is there a simple way for Christians to meditate?
Meditating certainly nothing new. People have been meditating for centuries, pondering life and their purpose in this world, seeking peace, mental clarity, self-awareness.
Because of the high stress levels and added economic burdens of the past few months, meditation is at the forefront. When I typed meditation into my search bar, ba-boom! Dozens of videos and sites came up promising to teach me how to find true peace and rest in the midst of this chaos.
Hmm. I’m skeptical when something promises peace, something that has nothing to do with Christ.
My Faith
First, here’s a bit of my faith story. (Read more here.) While I’m not an expert on theology or meditation practices of other faith traditions, I have walked with the Lord for a really long time—after all, I am a gray-haired lady—ever since my Baptism as an infant which was back when Doris Day was singing “Que Sera, Sera.”
I didn’t know I trusted God way back then. But no matter. He had me. I became His child.
I am still His. And ever since, I’ve practiced my faith. Not perfectly. Still. Learning. Growing. Reading. Praying. Stumbling. Trusting.
Maybe my stumbling and learning can help you in your stumbling and learning. What I’m illustrating here is a simple way—a beginning—for Christians to think about it. (Some of you already have a vibrant devotional practice filled with prayers, Scripture readings, journaling. Some of you might just need a reminder, an invitation, a little encouragement. Many of you could teach me new things.)
What is meditation?
The big question. What is meditation? I cannot answer this fully. Entire books have been dedicated to this question. Entire lives. For my purposes, I’m offering a simple definition using the Latin word meditatio. It means a thinking over, contemplation, dwelling upon.
I like the dwelling upon idea because it’s an image most of us understand. When I choose what to dwell upon, then I’m living there. I arrive at that place, that dwelling, that home; I unpack my suitcase and hang up clothes; I unbox the dishes and put eggs and milk in the fridge; I dwell there.
Yep, I can dwell in many spaces.
- my fear-of-the-day
- my goals
- my special word for the year
- my mental image of a peaceful place like a mountain stream, a sunlit beach
- my mistakes
- my successes
There’s nothing wrong with contemplating these things in other venues. I do that when I journal or wash dishes or plump my pillows or take a walk. But they aren’t meditation-worthy. I don’t want to dwell in those rooms.
Dwell Upon
I want to dwell upon someone—not me—and someplace—not this crazy messed up world—that matters for eternity. I want to dwell upon sacred things. Sacred things?
Yeah. Right. That makes as much sense as solving a complex mathematical equation or reading Greek or flying a helicopter. Easy for you.
Yet it is easy.
Dwelling upon something that matters for eternity is a simple process. Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated.
3 Steps: A Simple Way for Christians to Meditate
1. Find a Bible.
2. Open it.
3. Read it.
A Promise
Meditation. It certainly can become more structured than this, the whole dwelling upon experience. But it doesn’t have to be. Really. Opening the Bible and reading. That can be your meditation, your devotional practice.
God’s Word promises something. Actually, His Word promises lots of things, but one really important promise is here in Isaiah 55.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
Beautiful. It shall accomplish that which I purpose. Maybe God’s purpose in one moment of frenzy is that you pause, breathe, and dive into His Word. Even if it’s one verse. One Psalm. One passage.
There it is. A simple way to meditate.
But it can’t be that simple, you say? Did you think you had to find a comfortable place, light a candle, set up a table with a cross and a prayer kneeler? Don’t you need a specific plan for reading? A certain kind of Bible? A fancy opening prayer? A book that teaches you all about meditation, the rich spiritual tradition, and the countless ways to practice it?
Again, those things can be helpful. But they aren’t necessary.
If You Need Peace
Today, if you are hungry for something to dwell upon — if you are tired of dwelling in your dwelling. If you are hurting or stressing or searching? If your dwelling feels like it’s not on solid ground?
Try this simple way for Christians to meditate:
1. Find your Bible.
2. Open it.
3. Read it.
When you dwell upon God’s Word, you will see Christ. He will find you. You will find grace. You will find love and daily bread and truth and peace. And you will meet the Risen Savior — again and again — who died on a cross to free you.
Jesus promised, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:25-27
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
*As I write this post, much of the world is dealing with the COVID-19 virus.
If you’re interested in more reflections on prayer, you might like these posts:
- A Simple Prayer for My Morning Routine
- Prayer Hurdles and Ways to Overcome Them
- Praying with God’s Word
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