One Faith-Specific Form of Meditation

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2)

I’ve been meditating daily for several months and have learned the gift of imperfection. The more I meditate, the more I need to experience. One would think sitting in semi-guided solitude would get boring and mundane after a while. Instead, meditation stimulates the brain by restoring control of one’s thoughts. In “If You’re Thinking a Lot During Meditation, You’re Doing It Right,” Alex Besson reflects, “The goal of meditation isn’t to wrestle your mind into a state of quietude, but to detach from it enough that it can process and release some of the stuck thinking and feeling patterns, and to cultivate a more resilient state of consciousness.” Besson’s description of the reality of meditation’s benefits is more than solitude.

Meditation forces our minds to turn off the mental cruise control and guides us to reaffirm our influence over our lives. While meditating, let the thoughts come and go with as little resistance as possible. As Besson prescribes, “Instead, let your psyche process and release whatever it needs to. Don’t dwell on or resist your thoughts.” The more you practice allowing thoughts to flow without resistance, the more comfortable you will become.

I can include a form of prayer in my meditation without feeling forced. In guided meditation, I am instructed to count my breath to help clear my mind. Instead of counting numbers, I repeat, “Wisdom, Son, Spirit.” At first, it felt clunky, but after a week, it became routine, and now, months later, counting feels awkward. Inviting the Triune God into my meditation allows the divine One to fill the space in my soul and mind. Meditation takes on a more profound feeling of contentment and meaning when God is part of the meditative process. My thoughts relax quicker, and when a thought nags, I write it down later and ponder it in a relaxed state because God might have been offering a clue of instruction.

Today, find a few solitary moments to sit in silence. Focus on your breathing, and instead of counting the inhales and exhales of breaths, allow your mind to say “Wisdom, Son, Spirit” repeatedly. Set a timer for the minutes you can give God and yourself. Then, relax and allow God to calm your mind, heal your soul, and speak to your heart. There is no better way to spend ten or twenty minutes!