The purpose of all types of meditation is to create a deeper understanding of the self through concentration and reflection. Christian meditation at its finest can be described as a form of deeply focused conversations with God. It does not require the use of prayer beads, mantras, or specific postures; it is simply a channel to free the mind.

Christian meditation is more of a contemplative pay using the mind and is perhaps the most efficient way to communicate with God.

Early Christian monks read passages or verses from the Bible slowly and then reflected on the meanings and messages of these verses. They called it the “divine reading,” and this is perhaps the earliest form of Christian meditation. This thoughtful way of reading the scriptures led them to have loving thoughts of God and his greatness. They called this contemplation.

This experience of reading the Bible, reflecting on its meanings and messages that in turn led to loving thoughts from God that ultimately ended in deep contemplation, came to be known as the ladder of prayer.

During the 20th century, two forms of Christian meditation stood out. The first involved the chanting of mantras called Maranatha, which in Aramaic means “Come, Lord.” The other form of Christian meditation is central prayer. This form uses a sacred word to convey one’s intention to be in the presence of God. Another part of this contemplative form of prayer is the detachment of the individual from his psychological problems.

The Method of the “Five Rs” of Saint Teresa of Avila, which includes: Prepare, Read, Reflect, Respond and Solve, is a five-step path to complete concentration while meditating on the Lord.

The Method of the “Five Rs” of Santa Teresa de Ávila:
Done: the first step is to prepare the mind to accept the presence of God by reflecting on your love, devotion and faith in him. Ask for forgiveness for your sins and find a purpose for your meditation.

Read: Once you have accepted the presence of God, the next step is to read a verse or passage from the Bible or read any sentence or even look at a picture and think about it.
Reflect: This step is about reflecting on your chosen passage or sentence by focusing your thoughts on it and then seeking answers to questions that will force the mind into deeper contemplation.

Answer: This is the part where the mind is free to initiate a dialogue with God. When you have reached this stage, you can now speak to him more freely and openly from the depths of your soul.

Resolution: This is the last part of the meditative process and should conclude by thanking God for all that he has blessed you and for his time.

Christian meditation is about focusing the mind on God and closing the mind to everything else. While it is a deeply profound spiritual experience, one must keep in mind that it is not a means to salvation. Like prayer, Christian meditation is a mere form of spiritual discipline, a deeper kind of worship, and a more intimate encounter with God.