Prayer--Meditation

Christian Prayer

Prepared by Nancy Pfaff, M.A.

                Prayer as meditation is traced to the Christians who moved away from cities and the corruption they found there in the second and third centuries. They moved into the deserts so that they could pray “at all times.” A particular prayer arose called the “Jesus Prayer,” “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me.” This gradually became shortened to the simple name, “Jesus” which could be repeated silently with each heart beat or breath. These Christians were called the Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers. Today, any Christian who has opened their heart to Jesus can pray in the same way.

                The Bible speaks in many places of “waiting” on the Lord, as in Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage: Wait for the Lord!” The Hebrew word for “wait” means “to be wrapped up with.” Another scripture in Psalm 123.2 gives an example of waiting: “As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until he has mercy on us.” Isaiah encourages us in our waiting: “those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” In Psalm 46:10 we are told: “Be still and know that I am God.” The Hebrew word for still means to cease from action, to be quiet.

                These scriptures, together with the example from the early Christians, persuade us to take time each day to be silent, still, and wrapped up with God. A simple way to do this is to set a timer for thirty minutes in a place that is quiet and comfortable. There are apps for cell phones that will ring a chime after a certain number of minutes. While sitting in the stillness, repeat the name of Jesus with each in-breath or the name Jesus Christ with Jesus on the in-breath and Christ on the out-breath. Some people prefer to use another focus such as “love.” Because scripture also promises that if we draw near to God, God draws near to us, imagine Jesus smiling and welcoming you as you pray. It also helps to select a place for your attention to focus such as the forehead or the heart with eyes closed.

                On average it takes the human mind and body about twenty minutes to come into stillness and begin to notice a shift in awareness, a shift that often encourages us that God is with us. The more regularly and more often this prayer is practiced, the easier it becomes. Know that it can be difficult and frustrating in the beginning. Rather than giving up, it is preferable to shorten the time of prayer to one minute and gradually increase over time. For the most benefit, practice thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening.

                For those with busy households, the example of Susanna Wesley is helpful. She had nineteen children. She would take time for prayer by sitting in her rocking chair and putting her apron up over her head. In this hectic time, let us respond to Christ’s invitation, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

Nancy Pfaff received her Master’s Degree in Christian Spirituality and lives in Reno, NV. She can be contacted at nwpfaff@gbis.com