My Ligonier Essay, "What is Meditation?"

From my recent essay on Ligonier.org:

Christian forms of meditation are closely associated with prayer.  Prayer is a conversation with another to whom we turn—someone outside ourselves.  We pray to God the Father, through the mediation of Jesus Christ in His role as intercessor between God and His people (1 Tim. 2:5), in the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:12–17).  There is no possibility of prayer if we turn within.  Who will answer me?  Am I praying to myself?  What if I get an answer? That is a sign of much deeper trouble.

Simply turning within ourselves offers no enduring hope for the relief from those stresses, pains, and frustrations that decidedly Eastern-religion practitioners of meditation are seeking.  We need a Savior greater than ourselves, who, crucified for our sins and raised from the dead, has ascended to the Father’s right hand where He lives to make intercession for His people (Heb. 7:25).  Such a Savior can and does hear our pleas, and He answers when we cry out to Him.

To read the rest, "What is Meditation"