“Be Still, and Know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NRSV
Meditation and Scripture
There are many verses in Holy Scripture which refer to the presence of God with us, but most of the time we are unconscious of this reality. Often, we are so preoccupied with the affairs of daily living that we are distracted from intentional spiritual reflection.
The image of the weaned child in Psalm 131 offers us a helpful approach to meditation as an act of prayer:
“But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (v. 2 NRSV)
A nursing child makes demands, whereas the weaned child is content to sit quietly. With prayers of petition and intercession we seek answers or blessings, but with meditation we are seeking to be released from restlessness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Early Christian Monastic Tradition
In the second century after the birth of Jesus Christ, the Desert Fathers went into the desert to pray, and by the fourth century the monastic tradition was evolving as a deliberate attempt to escape the busyness of secular life. In the seclusion of cloisters, monks and nuns engaged in the rhythm of worship and work, prayer and quiet praise.
Monasteries and convents continue to offer a place of retreat and refuge for those who wish to seclude themselves and engage in a process of discernment and spiritual growth. Individual or group, guided or silent retreats conducted by a spiritual guide are also available in many locations.
Some Methods of 
Christian Meditation
1. Reflection on Scripture: Prayerfully place yourself in any of the stories of healing in the New Testament, or like Mary, the Mother of Our Lord, ponder and treasure the words and works of God in your heart (Luke 2:51).
2. Music: Listen to vocal and instrumental versions of hymns and spiritual songs which may help your spirit to settle in the presence of the Lord.
3. Nature: Sit by the beach, in a garden, in the woods, or wherever the glory of the Lord is revealed to you in creation and allow His peace to embrace you.
4. Breath Prayers: The original monastic prayer was “Lord Jesus Christ” (while inhaling), “have mercy on me” (while exhaling). You may personalize the rhythm as you wish (e.g. Jesus my healer, remove this pain in my heart).
5. Object Prayers: Focus on a cross, a lit candle, a loaf of bread, or any item available and allow your thoughts to draw you into a deeper understanding of God’s grace. Our Lord used sheep, water, seeds and many other familiar objects to make spiritual connections for his hearers.
6. Contemplative Prayer: Sit silently in stillness for short periods of time and to allow your thoughts to flow without focusing on anything in particular.
Holy Thoughts
As Christians, we are called to a life of holiness. This requires us to be intentional about our own walk with the Lord, to teach this life to the next generation, and leave a legacy for those yet unborn.
Meditation is a form of prayer that promotes spiritual maturity. It invites us to use our minds and spirits to control our bodies as we engage in the slow process of integration. As we meditate on the life of Christ in the Word of God, as we ponder the ways of God in our own lives and those of others, as we take time to become still and quiet, we will come to know God personally and on a more intimate level.
