What is contemplative prayer?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Contemplative prayer has two very different meanings today, and understanding the distinction is crucial for Christians. The New Age version encourages emptying the mind to have mystical experiences, which is unbiblical and opens participants to deception. In contrast, biblical contemplative prayer focuses on retreating from distractions to intentionally seek God. This form of prayer engages the mind, relies on Scripture, and trusts the Holy Spirit to intercede, emphasizing God’s presence rather than manufactured experiences. Christians are called to practice prayer that honors God, remains rooted in His Word, and protects their hearts from unbiblical influences while cultivating intimacy with Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• As with any spiritual practice, if we cannot find an applicable example in Scripture, we must analyze it with biblically-grounded caution and protect our hearts from false practices (Proverbs 4:23, 23:19, 27:19).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Christian practice of contemplative prayer, which includes retreating to quiet places and focusing on God, is biblical. In Matthew 6:6-8 Jesus instructs His listeners to go into their closets and pray.
• Jesus modeled pulling away from the crowds in order to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). We may not have a massive amount of people following us like Jesus did, but we do have stresses of daily life that can distract us from meaningful time spent alone with God.
• Pulling away from the craziness of the world and coming to God in solitude helps believers focus on Him. Our words may not always be needed. Rather, Christians can be attuned to God’s word and have the promise of the Holy Spirit intervening for us (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 8:26-30).
• We are not to conform to the world but instead present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). As such, we should pursue biblical renewal of our mind, not emptying it to be influenced by mysticism.
• All prayer modeled in Scripture is active (1 Corinthians 14:15). We should be alert, not mentally “emptied” when we are praying.
• God’s Word promises us that we have everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3-8) and that the mystery of His will has already been made known to us in the Gospel. These truths must anchor us.
• Philippians 4:4-7 encourages us to pray continually. Often, our environments are not distraction-free of distraction, but that is no excuse to neglect prayer.
• Instead of allowing our minds to be influenced by the enemy, we should focus our thoughts on the godly things mentioned in Philippians 4:8.
• We can practice a form of "contemplative prayer" that is centered on God and His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• Christians are to be alert against the enemy (1 Peter 5:8), and this means being spiritually attuned with what is happening around us. If we try to empty our mind to make room for another spiritual force to influence us, we fall prey to the enemy’s schemes.
• Some will claim to be Christians and insist that their teachings and other practices are biblical, such as New Age contemplative prayer. But we are called to “test the spirits” since “many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Contemplative prayer has two points of reference that must be understood: modernized New Age teachings and traditions in historical Christianity. Unfortunately, both use the term contemplative prayer, which can make the topic confusing and possibly dangerous if not understood properly. Any kind of "contemplative prayer" or meditation based on an emptying of the mind with the purpose of a mystical encounter with a higher being has its roots in Eastern mysticism. This is the type of "contemplative prayer" being used today by New Age practitioners who do not believe in the One true God and Creator as revealed in Scripture. Associated terms include praying to "the Divine" or "encountering a Higher Power." On that description, no Christian should practice contemplative prayer as any practice not founded in biblical truth with the chief goal being God’s glory is dangerous.

The other danger with New Age "contemplative prayer" lies in entering a meditative state with the emptying of the mind or rote repetition of a word. This is not modeled anywhere in the Bible and certainly not by Jesus.

But “contemplative prayer" in the Christian sense dates back to the first century and the Desert Fathers, a monastic movement that looked for solitude, austerity, and sacrifice as a way of life to be closer to God and follow in Jesus' footsteps. Much of early Christianity was influenced by the traditions that came out of that movement, including prayer and meditation with God that was slow and focused. This is the practice that Christians today may learn and employ.

UNDERSTAND

• Contemplative prayer can be unbiblical (New Age mysticism) or biblical (focused on God in quiet devotion).
• Biblical contemplative prayer engages the mind, is anchored in Scripture, and follows Jesus’ example.
• Christians should seek God through the Bible and the Spirit, not through mystical or manufactured experiences.

REFLECT

• How do you ensure your prayer life stays rooted in God’s Word rather than seeking mystical experiences?
• How can you intentionally create quiet space to focus on God amidst your daily life?
• How do you rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words during prayer?

ENGAGE

• How can the church prepare believers to guard against unbiblical practices that often creep into worship?
• Why might some Christians be drawn to mystical or New Age prayer techniques, and how can we address this?
• How can we guide believers to focus on uplifting and godly truths while still facing and navigating the real challenges of life?