Do you ever get distracted when meditating or praying? I'm sure it never happens to you, but I often stop and realize my thoughts have gone off on their own journey to no place in particular. I have to stop and refocus. But aren't there ways to curb our thoughts, at least a little?
Yes!
Here's a great tip: Keep a notebook close by and jot down every stray thought as soon as you recognize it. Writing it down will allow your mind to release it. Then refocus on your meditation.
A great habit to adopt is to write three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts every day. You can do it in the morning before an early meditation to clear the mind before beginning. Or you can do it each night before bed. You'll be amazed how peaceful you sleep when wandering thoughts are first put to rest.
Here's a simple practice of Christian meditation that can be done in 10 minutes. Or you can linger and allow a little more time. A short practice of meditation once or twice a day (at the beginning and end of the day) can focus our thoughts throughout the day and avoid the stress caused by cluttered minds which are unable to process things as they come.
-Find a comfortable place to sit, a place you won’t be
interrupted.
-Sit up straight, alert, but comfortable.
-Breathe deeply, filling the stomach, then up into the
chest. Release the breath from the chest first, then slowly allow the stomach
to sink toward the back as you are emptied of all the air. Do this a few times
then continue deep, slow, but natural breathing.
-Focus on any noise outside of you for several seconds. Once
you acknowledge them, you’ll be able to forget about them.
-Focus on your breathing for a moment. Feel the breath
flowing in and out. Feel it tickle under your nose.
-allow your
focus to turn to Jesus, the Word, alive and active, who created all of life,
and continues to sustain it—upholding all things by the Word of His power.
-Be still and know He is God.
-Take a verse or phrase from the Bible and ponder its meaning.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~Philippians 4:13
“Imagination is everything, it is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ~Albert Einstein
"Anyone who can tap the power of the imagination can learn to meditate."
~Richard foster.
All religions and teachers of meditation agree that the thought life is a treasure to be nurtured. Revisiting my research on meditation brings me back to the intriguing subject of imagination. What a gift from God, that we might know Him better.
But how little we use our imagination. How rarely we stop for even ten minutes to clear our minds in order to tap into it. I challenge you to take ten minutes today to sit in a quiet place, be still. Don't think about anything particular, just know that God is.
