| 0;May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I | | | | “.. The kingdom of God is within you." |
| rejoice in the Lord.” – Psalm 104:34 | | | | – Luke 17:21 |
| As a practicing Christian I often get | | | | So did Jesus practice meditation? The Bible |
| ‘raised eyebrows’ from people | | | | doesn’t say it explicitly, but one could |
| who learn that I am a Certified Meditation | | | | assume that something was happening during all |
| Instructor. Many people believe that meditation | | | | the time that Jesus went off by himself to be |
| and Christianity are not compatible with each | | | | alone. It is very clear from the Bible that Jesus |
| other. | | | | would often leave the crowds and his disciples to |
| First of all I should point out clearly that meditation | | | | be alone and spend time in solitude and that he |
| is not a religion. Although nearly every religion has | | | | was “sitting”. |
| some meditation component (yes even | | | | “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of |
| Christianity), meditation is a universal practice | | | | Olives, the disciples came to him privately” |
| which encompasses all faiths and is free of | | | | – Matthew 24:3. |
| orthodoxy and dogma. | | | | I suppose we can never know for sure if Jesus |
| “And the Lord God formed man of the | | | | was practicing some sort of formal meditation, |
| dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils | | | | but we absolutely can be certain that he placed |
| the breath of life and man became a living | | | | value on spending time alone, in solitude and in |
| soul.” – Genesis 2:7 | | | | prayer. He often needed to get away – |
| The simplest form of meditation is focusing all of | | | | and we should certainly follow that example. |
| your attention on your breath. As you practice | | | | My personal belief is that the anxious and |
| this simple exercise, you will find the mind quieting, | | | | distracted mind causes us to falter and make bad |
| the body relaxing and sense of well-being and | | | | decisions, not a calm focused mind. Scientific |
| peace beginning to wash over your body. Now I | | | | evidence now shows us that there is no better |
| don’t know about you, but I have a hard | | | | way to obtain a calm focused mind than through |
| time finding the sin in that. In fact, isn’t it | | | | a regular meditation practice. |
| normally the mind that leads us into temptation? | | | | “May the words of my mouth and the |
| If we had the ability to focus our minds on | | | | meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, |
| positive things such as love, peace and | | | | O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” |
| God’s will don’t you think we | | | | – Psalm 19:14 |
| would have less temptation in our lives? The | | | | In addition to breath meditation another popular |
| simple practice of meditation, redirecting our | | | | form of meditation is called “mantra |
| attention to our breath, over and over again as | | | | meditation”. Mantra is a Sanskrit word |
| our attention wanders, builds up our mental | | | | which means “mind instrument”. A |
| muscles. It is literally “mind fitness”. | | | | mantra is just a word or phrase that is repeated |
| Our normally scattered and confused minds | | | | over and over again. As you focus on your |
| become focused and calm – an attribute | | | | mantra, your mind will calm, your body will relax |
| which is powerful for any Christian. | | | | and you will begin to experience a sensation of |
| “Do not conform any longer to the | | | | peace. For those Christians who are still doubtful |
| pattern of this world, but be transformed by the | | | | about meditation I would recommend choosing a |
| renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to | | | | very short Bible verse that has special meaning |
| test and approve what God's will is—his | | | | for them and simply repeat that Bible verse for |
| good, pleasing and perfect will.” – | | | | some duration of time and really begin to feel the |
| Romans 12:2 | | | | deeper meaning of the verse. This form of |
| No discussion about Christianity would be complete | | | | meditation has all the same benefits as breath |
| without looking at the example of our Lord Jesus. | | | | meditation and is actually commanded of us in |
| Didn’t Jesus go off into the desert for | | | | Joshua 1:8. |
| forty days and forty nights by himself? I | | | | “This book of the law shall not depart |
| don’t think Jesus brought along an iPod or | | | | from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it |
| cell phone for those forty days. The Bible tells us | | | | day and night.” – Joshua 1:8 |
| at the end of the forty days Jesus was tempted. | | | | In conclusion, I would like to add that meditation |
| Could it be that there was a reason Jesus needed | | | | has been scientifically proven to improve mental |
| to be in silence and solitude prior to his | | | | and physical health in dramatic and conclusive |
| temptation? I think so. When tempted his mind | | | | ways. Isn’t it time that Christians begin to |
| was clear, focused and decisive. He was able to | | | | enjoy the same health benefits that practitioners |
| resist temptation using clear logic and thoughtful | | | | of other religions are experiencing? |
| dialogue. He wasn’t confused or scattered. | | | | |