Is centering prayer biblical?

TL;DR:

Centering prayer isn’t found anywhere in Scripture because the Bible invites us to speak honestly with God—not empty our minds through repetition. God calls us to come to Him as we are, in every moment, relying on relationship rather than ritual.

what does the bible say?

The Bible does not touch on the subject of centering prayer. Rather, it provides many examples of completely broken people communicating with God without following a certain ritual or method of prayer. An example is the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Elijah was in despair and asked God to take his life. Instead of condemning Elijah, God encouraged and provided for him. Similarly, Job, during a time of great pain and sorrow, questioned and complained to God (Job 10), yet God ultimately restored Job’s life. Another powerful example is King David’s confessional prayer in Psalm 51, in which he comes before God as a broken man, contrite over his heavy sins of adultery and murder. As seen in these examples, we are encouraged to come to God in our brokenness and despair. In fact, in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus specifically encourages those who are “weary and are heavy laden” to come to Him. Lastly, Romans 12:12, Philippians 4:4–7, Colossians 4:2 exhort believers to pray continually, regardless of the mental state, life situation, or physical environment we are in.

from the old testament

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah flees for his life from the evil Queen Jezebel who is seeking to murder him. Rather than pray to God in a certain structure or state of reserved emotion, he pours out this gutwrenching prayer to God as he is in the wilderness: “‘...It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4). Instead of condemning Elijah, God sent an angel who provided for and encouraged him (verses 5-8).
Job endured some of the worst hardships and torments recorded in the Bible. Even in the midst of loathing his life, he communicated his innermost thoughts to God (Job 10). We can express our feelings to God at all times. While we should always revere God as Lord, it’s okay to bring our questions and pain to Him.
David’s prayer in Psalm 51 demonstrates that even when we have sinned greatly, we can come to God in any state we are in. While eliminating distractions can help, we don’t need to practice “centering” ourselves before we confess our sins to God.

from the new testament

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Even when we’re emotionally overwhelmed and distracted, we can still come to Jesus and know that He can provide rest for our soul.
Prayer is a crucial part of our Christian faith. Romans 12:12 says, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." As we walk out our relationship with God, we should communicate with Him during every step we take.
Philippians 4:4–7 encourages us to come before God in prayer even when we are anxious: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 4:2 says, "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." Prayer isn’t reserved for only when we are in a “state” to hear God’s voice. We can pray to our Heavenly Father at all times.

implications for today

Some spiritual leaders in the contemplative prayer movement teach and practice centering prayer as an effort to help adherents remove distractions or anxiety and make a way for God. However, the Bible makes it clear that we can come to God as we are—broken, angry, troubled, etc. Regardless of our thoughts and feelings, we can and should converse with God about them. The danger of engaging in centering prayer is neglecting the personal nature of a relationship with God. Chants and repetitions are not conversation, neither are they based in a relationship. However, praying is communicating with God, based on an intimate relationship with Him. Even if we are distracted by the things of this world, we should pray at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

understand

Centering prayer is an unbiblical practice of repeating a word or thought, purportedly to prepare for prayer.
We should approach God with sincerity, pouring out our heart to Him.
The Bible encourages us to pray continually.

reflect

How do you ensure that you’re not distracted during prayer?
In your prayer life, how do you balance reverence for the Lord with being open and sincere?
What can you learn from the prayers of biblical figures like Elijah and David?

engage

Why might some people be attracted to extra-biblical practices like centering prayer?
How can we uphold biblical prayer in group settings?
What are some religious traditions that promote extra-biblical prayer practices?