What is Contemplative Prayer?
Contemplative prayer is a form of Christian prayer that seeks to quiet the mind and emotions in order to focus on the presence of God. It emphasizes silence, stillness, and simply “being” rather than petitioning God for things. Contemplative prayer has a long history in Christianity, especially in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Some of the key aspects of contemplative prayer include:
Silence and Solitude – Setting aside time for silent prayer, away from noise and distractions. The aim is to still the inner chatter of the mind and be fully present to God. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Focus and Simplicity – Contemplative prayer centers on a simple focus like a word, phrase, or object to train the mind. The Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”) is one example.
Letting Go – Practitioners seek to let go of analytical thinking, outside concerns, and self-effort. The goal is receptivity to God and allowing Him to lead the prayer time. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” (Proverbs 3:5)
Being, Not Doing – Contemplative prayer emphasizes resting in God’s presence rather than accomplishing something. It is more about abiding than achieving. “Abide in me, and I in you.” (John 15:4)
Imagination and Visualization – Engaging the imagination by visualizing biblical scenes or images of God can be part of contemplative prayer. Scriptural imagination seeks to make biblical truths come alive.
Body Positions – Kneeling, sitting, standing, or even walking prayerfully in a meditative state are all connected to contemplative prayer. Certain positions are conducive to stillness.
Breath Prayers – Slow, mindful breathing while repeating a simple prayer phrase helps calm the body and mind. Combining words with breath anchors the focus.
Lectio Divina – This meditative approach to Scripture reading involves contemplating passages slowly, attentively listening for God’s voice. The focus is spiritual transformation, not exegesis.
Centering Prayer – Associated with Thomas Keating, centering prayer involves letting go of thoughts and words to rest in God’s presence. It builds on ancient prayer forms like the Jesus Prayer.
Divine Office – Reciting the fixed hours or liturgy of the hours from the Book of Psalms and other Scriptures has long been part of contemplative practice. It sanctifies time by regular prayer.
Praying the Scriptures – Reading or listening to the Bible contemplatively, receptively, quietly pondering smaller passages or even single words. The aim is allowing God’s Word to penetrate deeply.
Contemplation and Meditation – While meditation focuses the mind, contemplation opens the mind to receive God’s truth. Meditation analyzes while contemplation synthesizes. Both have a long Christian history.
Detachment – Letting go of worldly cares, concerns, and desires is key to settling into stillness with God. Practicing detachment allows deeper connection to the eternal.
Silencing Self-Talk – Contemplative prayer seeks to still the inner monologue. The constant commentary running through our minds can prevent us from resting in God.
Recollection – This is the repeated practice of gently bringing the attention back to God whenever it wanders. Distracting thoughts are normal, but recollection enables staying centered.
Inner Healing – Contemplative prayer can be useful for listening for God’s guidance in healing emotional wounds or hearing His truths to replace lies we’ve believed. Jesus invites us to bring Him all our burdens.
Experiencing God – While doctrinally grounded, contemplative prayer puts emphasis on encountering God intimately, beyond rational thinking. The aim is knowing Christ deeply and loving Him more through time spent with Him.
Infused Prayer – While most prayer requires self-effort, infused prayer is contemplation received from God as His initiative. Practitioners seek to recieve this grace-filled state from the Holy Spirit.
Heart Prayer – Centering prayer in the heart, rather than the intellect, has been described as a state of recollection that doesn’t depend on the mind’s effort or willpower. It flows from the Spirit.
Prophetic Inspiration – When centered and receptive to God’s quiet voice through contemplative prayer, we may receive inner promptings or pictures that provide prophetic inspiration for ministry to others.
Generational Blessing – Contemplatives believe that time spent in intimate prayer before God releases great blessing not only for them but for generations to come. Our prayer taps into God’s eternal purposes.
Obscure Faith – In contemplative prayer, God is known and yet not known. There is always an element of mystery in our limited human faculties encountering an infinite God. We rest in His glorious obscurity.
Dark Night of the Soul – Seasons of spiritual dryness, doubt, or detachment from God’s felt presence are viewed as part of the purifying process of contemplative prayer. Through the “dark night” faith is refined.
Desert Spirituality – Seeking solitude and stripped down existence as modeled by the desert fathers facilitates shedding distractions and drawing close to God. Less is more.
Recollection and Contemplation – While similar in some aspects, recollection continually refocuses on God while contemplation enters into complete stillness and rest in Him beyond the need for redirecting. Contemplation is complete absorption.
Purity of Heart – As described by Kierkegaard, purity of heart is singleness of focus on Christ. It is cultivated by contemplative prayer simplifying all competing affections until only love for God remains. This aligns our hearts with His.
Self-Examination – Introspective prayerful review of our inner motives, sins, distractions, attachments, and idols that compete with Christ helps remove barriers to deeper connection with God. Contemplation requires ruthless honesty.
Spiritual Disciplines – Fasting, study, service, confession, submission and many other spiritual disciplines can accompany and enable a life devoted to contemplative prayer. They deepen and protect the contemplative path.
Devotional Reading – Study of devotional writings from saints and mystics of the past provides wisdom for deepening contemplative prayer. We learn from those who have walked the path before us.
Spiritual Direction – Seeking out the counsel of godly, prayerful mentors helps guide contemplative prayer and growth. They can discern blind spots and encourage progress in grace. “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
Holistic Faith – While contemplative prayer focuses on interior closeness to God, it should lead to outward service and evangelism. Developing both inner devotion and practical living is part of a balanced Christian journey.
Instrumental Use – While communion with God is the aim of contemplative prayer, it equips us for more fruitful ministry to others. Out of overflow comes usefulness. “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38)
Humility and Grace – The truly humble contemplate how much they have overlooked God’s grace at work in their lives. Stillness before God reminds us that all good is from Him. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
Dependent Prayer – Contemplation confronts our self-sufficiency as we learn to pray without words or requests, relying on the Spirit’s work instead of human effort. We simply abide in faith.
Patient Waiting – While contemplation can provide deep experiences of God’s presence, much time is spent patiently and expectantly waiting for Him to act. Like watchmen (Psalm 130:5-6), we remain ready.
In closing, while potentially mystical at times, contemplative prayer is grounded in historic Christian spirituality and doctrine. It provides balance to more active, dynamic expressions of prayer and connects believers to biblical roots. Contemplation offers a valuable way of communing with God that engages the heart in love for Him beyond what the intellect or emotions can grasp. It saturates us in His presence as we become still and know the Lord.