Meditation is an ancient spiritual practice that has been used for thousands of years as a way to connect with God or a higher power. Though meditation is often associated with Eastern religions like Buddhism and Hinduism, it can also be an important part of developing a relationship with God in Christianity and other Abrahamic faiths.
Through meditation, we quiet our minds and open our hearts to feel God’s presence within us. We tune out the distractions of everyday life and tune into the voice of the divine. Meditation allows us to be still and know that God is with us.
Some benefits of using meditation to connect with God include:
- Deepening your understanding of God’s love for you
- Feeling more connected to God throughout your day
- Letting go of stress, anxiety, or negative emotions
- Increasing your compassion and forgiveness
- Gaining clarity and wisdom for life’s challenges
If you want to strengthen your relationship with God, incorporating meditation into your spiritual practice can be very powerful. Here’s how to get started.
Prepare your heart and mind
Before beginning your meditation, take a few minutes to quiet your mind and open your heart to connecting with God. Here are some suggestions:
- Pray to God, asking to experience God’s presence and love more deeply.
- Reflect on any ways you’d like to grow closer to God or improve your relationship.
- Let go of any distractions or worries occupying your mind.
- Focus your intention on using this time to connect with God.
This helps shift your mindset into a more spiritual space and primes you for a divine connection.
Choose a comfortable meditation posture
To prepare your body for meditation, find a comfortable seated position where you can relax and focus. Here are some options:
- Sit cross-legged on a cushion on the floor
- Kneel using a meditation bench or pillow
- Sit upright in a chair with your feet flat on the floor
- Lie down on your back looking up
Place your hands palms up or down on your lap. Close your eyes if that feels comfortable or gaze softly downward. Allow your body to relax and release any tension as you settle into your posture.
Focus your attention
Now bring your full attention to your meditation practice. Here are two simple focuses to choose from:
1. Your breath
- Notice each inhale and exhale without trying to control your breathing.
- Focus on the feeling of each breath flowing in and out.
- If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the breath.
- Breathe relaxed and naturally, letting the breath draw you into the present moment.
2. A sacred word or phrase
- Choose a word or short phrase that connects you to God, such as “Love,” “Peace,” “God is with me,” or “Thy will be done.”
- Repeat this word or phrase quietly in your mind over and over.
- When other thoughts arise, return to your sacred word.
- Let this word draw you into God’s presence within.
Whichever focus you choose, stick with it for the duration of your meditation.
Be receptive to God’s presence
As you meditate, open your heart and mind to experiencing God within you and all around you. Here are some suggestions:
- Imagine you can breathe God’s light and love in and out with each breath.
- Visualize being filled and surrounded by God’s presence.
- Listen for any messages or promptings from God within your soul.
- Notice any insights, inspiration, or feelings of connection with the divine.
Receiving God’s presence may feel subtle or profound. Simply be open and aware, letting God’s energy flow into you.
Close your meditation
When you feel ready to complete your meditation, take a few minutes to close the practice and transition back into your day:
- Offer a prayer of thanks for the time spent connecting to God.
- Reflect on any insights or experiences you had.
- Consider journaling to help integrate the experience.
- Carry a sense of God’s presence with you as you move forward with your day.
This helps the spiritual benefits from your meditation penetrate into the rest of your life.
Practice meditating regularly
Like any spiritual discipline, the more you practice meditation the deeper your experiences will become. Aim to meditate for at least 10-20 minutes daily if possible. Here are some tips:
- Set a regular time to meditate when you can be undisturbed.
- Create a sacred space in your home devoted to meditation.
- Use meditation music, candles, incense or sacred objects to set the mood.
- Join a meditation group or spiritual community for support.
- Read inspirational books or listen to uplifting audio while meditating.
Make meditation a priority daily ritual and you’ll notice your connection with God begin to deepen and expand.
Try a walking meditation outside
In addition to a seated meditation practice, try incorporating walking meditations outside in nature. This allows you to connect with God through the beauty of creation. Here’s how:
- Find a quiet natural setting like a park, garden or nature trail.
- Walk at a slow, mindful pace focusing on your footsteps or the sensations in your body.
- Tune into your senses – notice sights, sounds, smells unfolding around you.
- Silently pray or recite sacred phrases like “Holy, holy, holy” as you walk.
- Feel God’s presence in the life and beauty surrounding you.
Walking meditations can be very nourishing for your soul.
Attend a spiritual retreat
Immersing yourself in a spiritual retreat can take your meditation practice to new depths. Look for retreats offered at churches, meditation centers, monasteries or other sacred locations. Common retreat activities include:
- Silent and guided meditations
- Contemplative prayer services
- Mindful nature walks
- Reflective journal writing
- Inspiring talks from religious teachers
- Chanting, drumming or spiritual music
- Mindful meals eaten in silence
- Discussion groups or spiritual counseling
The combination of meditative practices, being in community and disconnecting from daily life can lead to profound spiritual experiences while on retreat.
Listen for divine guidance in meditation
One of the beautiful fruits of a deep meditation practice is beginning to receive divine guidance from God. God may speak to you in many ways:
- As intuitive thoughts, ideas or sudden insights
- Through meaningful symbols, images or visions
- As direct words, messages or conversations
- Through sensations of energy, love or peace in your body
- By guiding you to exactly what you need to read, hear or learn
Write down any guidance you receive and put it into practice in your life. Stay patient and open, as divine messages can arise when you least expect them. With practice, you’ll learn to discern God’s voice more clearly through meditation.
Pray for others while meditating
Your meditation practice can extend beyond your own relationship with God to include your wider community. Try incorporating lovingkindness meditation:
- Center yourself by silently repeating a sacred word or phrase.
- Pray for God to fill a person you know with love, peace, joy, strength, healing or whatever they need.
- Visualize them receiving God’s blessings.
- Repeat, extending prayers of love to friends, family, neighbors, communities and ultimately the whole world.
This meditation brings your spiritual practice outward to touch more lives.
Read sacred texts as part of meditation
Incorporating inspirational reading into your meditation practice can help you understand and connect with God on a deeper level. Try these ideas:
- Read a short passage from a sacred text like the Bible, Torah, Quran or other scripture.
- Reflect on or recite Psalms and other spiritually meaningful verses.
- Read the words of great spiritual teachers like Jesus, Rumi, the Buddha, etc.
- Chant verses or prayers from your faith tradition.
- Ask God to speak to you through the words, then sit quietly listening.
Let the text nourish your soul and reveal insights to guide you.
Sing or listen to spiritual music
Music that touches your soul can elevate your meditation practice. Try these suggestions:
- Sing or listen to worship songs, hymns or chant music.
- Play instrumental music like soft piano, strings or ambient tones.
- Listen to nature sounds like birdsong, ocean waves or rainfall.
- Chant “Om” or play a singing bowl while meditating.
- Ask God to speak to you through the music.
Let the music carry you into a sacred inner space of divine union.
Visualize meeting Jesus or a spiritual guide
Imagining meeting Jesus or a divine spiritual guide can make your meditation very powerful:
- Picture Jesus or an angel, saint, prophet or other guide waiting to meet you.
- Imagine walking up a mountain, through a forest or into a temple to meet them.
- See yourself sitting before them, surrounded by divine light.
- Feel their profoundly loving presence and any messages they offer you.
- Thank them and allow this divine light to fill your whole being.
This inner visualization brings you into a sacred space to receive divine light.
Chant mixing sacred sounds
Chanting combining sounds like “Om,” “Amen” and “Shalom” can link you to the divine:
- Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths.
- On each exhale, chant “Om,” “Amen” or “Shalom” aloud or silently.
- Focus on the vibrations and meaning of each sound.
- Allow the sounds to fuse into a tapestry of sacred resonance.
- Feel this vibration awakening your connection with the divine.
These ancient sacred seed syllables invoke a powerful spirit of unity.
Practice meditative prayer
Meditative prayer combines silent meditation with vocalized prayer to God. Try alternating:
- Some minutes focusing quietly on your mantra, breath or sacred readings.
- Some minutes speaking informal heartfelt prayers aloud to God.
- Close with a few minutes of quiet receptivity and listening.
This blends vocal prayer with meditative contemplation for a rich encounter with God.
Create a sacred space to support your practice
Your environment can impact the quality of your meditation, so create a tranquil space just for meditation:
- Set aside a quiet, private corner or whole room in your home.
- Keep it simple and uncluttered – a chair or cushion, table or stand, and limited sacred objects.
- Play quiet music, light candles, burn incense or essential oils to set the mood.
- Display spiritual art, photos, stones, statues or other special objects.
- Have pillows, blankets, shawls and beverages to help you feel comfortable.
Making your sacred space welcoming will nourish your soul and enhance your time with God.
Practice meditating with others
While solitary meditation is wonderful, group meditation can also be very powerful:
- Meditate with your family at home by sharing silence together.
- Join a meditation group through your church or local center.
- Attend communal chanting or drumming events.
- Participate in group prayers, readings or spiritual discussions.
- Feel the collective energy amplifying your own meditative state.
Being in community expands our awareness of the infinite possibilities of divine connection.
Observe silence for one day per month
Setting aside a day of silence periodically enhances your meditation practice immensely. On this day:
- Refrain from work, media, phone, Internet, socializing, errands and other talk.
- Focus on spiritual reading, prayer, chanting, meditating, time in nature, mindful walking, journaling.
- Prepare simple foods, moving slowly and making little noise.
- Spend most of the day in silence, speaking only if absolutely necessary.
- Feel God’s presence in the stillness.
These monthly Silent Days will become oases you treasure for connecting deeply with God.
Conclusion
Developing a regular meditation practice and incorporating it into your spiritual life is a profoundly rewarding way to enrich your relationship with God. As you learn to quiet your mind and open your heart in meditation, you make space for God’s light to fill you and guide you from within. Be patient with the process and trust that God is with you in meditation, practicing daily. You will discover your capacity to feel the divine presence grow ever stronger and closer.