Meditating on God, Not the Bible

Isaac went out to the field one evening to meditate. - Genesis 24:63

Isaac lived 4,000 years ago - and it was before any scripture was written down. So he wasn’t reflecting on the Bible! He was connecting with God through meditation practices. We can do the same.

Laurie Santos, whose happiness course is the most popular at Yale University and whose podcast has often been in the top 10 in America defines meditation as “the practice of intentionally turning your attention away from distracting thoughts toward a single point of reference.”  Studies show that 10 minutes of daily meditation can have dramatic effects on overall well being!  In Christian spirituality, the “single reference point” we orient ourselves around in meditation is Jesus. 

So this week, you’re invited to expand your prayer life through the daily practice of meditation. You can pick one of these resources for assistance, or try different ones on different days. Jot down each night what you tried, what was helpful, and how you felt.

• If you’re a beginner to meditation, you might start with one of these meditations created for the happiness course. Invite God into your practice as you begin.

• Breath prayers (breathing in and out while focusing on a few powerful words)

• Lectio divina (listening with full and receptive attention to a short Scripture, 3x over)

• Imaginative Contemplation (for when you have more than 10 minutes to sit quietly with God)