Meditation Pictures & Sound

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." - Joshua 1:8
By Rev. Jacquie Hood
www.blackamericatoday.com

Each day millions of people practice meditation. From time to time confusion arises as to whether or not Christians should practice meditation, yoga and other forms of spirituality that balance and focus our lives. By definition, meditation is a prayer form involving silent concentration. It just so happens that there are a variety of forms to practice. To meditate from a Christian perspective is to use what is called a mantra. A mantra is the use of repetition of a song, word or phrase that causes clarity to arise on part of the issue we are seeking guidance. Scripture, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, songs from hymnbooks and personal prayers become the point of reference. Each of these provides a sense of well-being and harmony.

As a practitioner, facilitator and teacher of relaxation, meditation and deep breathing techniques, I cannot express how important it is for the believer to use meditation as a way to get closer to God, themselves and their loved ones. Not only do I practice, I also design rooms in homes, spas and office buildings to be used as places of meditation and relaxation. In our busy world, we all need a place to find solace and serenity. For anyone looking to facilitate or practice meditation, it is important to be sure that integrity is shown above anything else.

As you are preparing for your journey, please read these scriptures in order to secure your position. As a believer always use scripture as your guide as not to lead you in to areas where you are not ready to go. Read Deuteronomy 4:7; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 26:36; Luke 22:30-40; Romans 8:26; Psalm 119:15; Psalm 119:78; Psalm 119:97; Psalm 145:5; Psalm 1:1-2; and Psalm 104:34. Allow these scriptures to lead you to a new level in your faith and walk with the Lord. Below are simple techniques to act as a guide to meditation.

Four Basic Elements to Meditation

1. A quiet place to meditate. The best environment for the practice of meditation is a quiet room: bedroom, bathroom or large closet. Sometimes just the quiet simplicity in a car or elevator can assist with alleviating stress and tension. Move to a quiet place with minimum distractions. The object is to prepare the mind for a state of relaxation.
2. A comfortable or poised posture. The postures most conducive to achieving relaxation are sitting in a chair, lying or sitting on the floor, or kneeling. In traditional meditation postures, however, the back is normally kept erect, though not rigidly upright. This is called poised posture. The right attitude for meditation may itself be described as poised: alert yet also relaxed. Poised posture promotes the right state of attention-awareness for successful meditation.
3. An object for attention-awareness to dwell upon. Often focusing on your own breathing creates awareness, fulfilling an element required for meditating for relaxation. Some meditation methods involve looking at objects with open eyes, but in others, the eyes are closed which makes relaxation easier. An individual may choose a sound or phrase or prayer. There is much to be said for choosing either a neutral word or praise effective word for Christian mantra meditation. Some people, however, like to use a word like 'peace', which has relaxing associations. If you make awareness of breathing your single meditation method, let your attention dwell on the gentle rise of your abdomen. Your breathing should be deep on the inhale and your exhale should be long and slow. After several minutes the gentle rhythmic breaths promote relaxation.
4. A positive and affirming attitude. A positive attitude is an essential element of meditation for relaxation. It is sometimes called poised awareness or attention-awareness because relaxation and alertness are in perfect balance. With practice, moments of great calm and deep restfulness during meditation will become more frequent.

As you grow stronger in the Lord and your faith, it is my prayer that you will allow the Lord to guide you in to all truth about his word, your life and His will for your life. May the meditation practices represented here bring you comfort and joy in these stressful times.