Contemplative Prayer Tool
About this module.
Ephesians 3:14–21 (NIV) 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Pay attention here!
Read that passage again, but this time, pay attention to the words and themes so that you can answer these questions: What is Paul really praying over you, the reader? What words or phrases captivate your attention?
Ephesians 3:14–21 gives us a stunning truth: You can have as much of God as you want. You can experience as much of God as you are willing to receive.
Paul’s great prayer builds to this breathtaking purpose in verse 19: “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Imagine that–God Himself pouring His very fullness into His people! God is infinite; therefore, there is an infinite amount of His life and love to fill you with. No matter how much you have received, there is more!
And here’s the key: the depth of our prayer life often reveals the depth of our desire for Him. It’s not about eloquent words or carefully crafted phrases; it’s about a heart that longs for God above all else.
The greatest answer to prayer isn’t a blessing, a breakthrough, or even a miracle–these are amazing and we should pursue these things in prayer! However, the greatest answer in prayer is God Himself—filling us, shaping us, and satisfying us with His presence.
So, how do we do this? There is a prayer tool known as “contemplative prayer.” Contemplative prayer is where we aim to simply be with God. Here’s an image we can hold onto: contemplative prayer is like sitting around a campfire with a close friend. You don’t need to fill every moment with chatter; the warmth of their presence is enough. Likewise, God wants us to experience Him beyond words. Ephesians 3:19 invites us “to know [God’s] love that surpasses knowledge.” This kind of “knowing” isn’t merely intellectual, it’s experiential! It’s the difference between describing the temperature of a fire versus feeling its warmth on your skin as you sit near the fire!
Many Christians through the ages have linked God’s love to “fire.” And perhaps this is one of those reasons! When fire is present, the effects are felt and visceral! So it is with God’s presence. Often the task is to become aware of God’s presence. We might “know” (biblically) that God is near, but it is quite another thing to KNOW it experientially. So, to frame contemplative prayer another way: contemplative prayer is positioning ourselves to heighten our awareness of God’s nearness and take time to linger there. It’s where we deepen our union with God. Christ’s words all throughout John 15 overflow with contemplative flavor. “Remain in me and I in you” (John 15:4) is a contemplative invitation from Christ Himself! (Take a moment to read John 15:1-11 if you can.)
Practically, contemplative prayer could look like this:
Either by sitting still or walking somewhere familiar, you become present to the moment; you take a few deep breaths, and you ask the Holy Spirit to center your thoughts and your affections on Jesus. You might repeat a simple prayer like, “Lord, I am here for You.” And then, you linger. You resist the urge to rush. Unhurry yourself. Believe the invitation of God is real to draw near to Him. The call to “seek His face” (Psalm 27:8) implies that He can be sought after. Be encouraged to let words assist this way of connecting with God, but words are not the driving force of this kind of prayer.
Many great resources on contemplative prayer have been written, and they typically emphasize a posture of stillness. Think about the concept found inPsalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” But don’t be mistaken–especially for those who are kinesthetic processors (needing movement to maintain focus)–it’s okay to walk around. The point is to establish greater stillness of soul, whether your body moves or stays still as well. A simple question to help you: What helps me become present to the moment? Answering that question will help you become more present to the person and presence of God.
A word of caution: Since contemplative prayer is the most inherently experiential of the prayer practices, be careful not to make the “feelings” the aim or the scorecard of it. The aim is simple: Seek God. The “good feelings” that can come from God’s presence are a gracious gift and byproduct, not the ambition of why we connect with God in this way. Sometimes contemplative prayer is practiced and little to no feelings are perceived. Does this mean you did something wrong? Or that God didn’t meet you there? Not necessarily! One day, our experience of God will be perfect and unending. But on this day, until Christ returns or we go to Him, there will be be days when our feelings fail to tell the full story. This tool can unlock some of the most spiritual experiences and supernatural encounters! But those might be few and far between. Don’t miss the joys of the subtle ways to experience God’s presence, warmth, nearness, and love. Part of raising our awareness of God is to sense Him in more simple, subtle ways as well. He IS near. Let’s not miss Him. Let’s rediscover how to be present with Him. It’ll take practice.
Today, let contemplative prayer be your gentle invitation: Pause, breathe, and say, “Lord, I want more of You. Fill me with Your fullness.” Abide there! Linger! Let yourself be still and know, and trust that He is already with you, loving you, and eager to draw near to you as you draw near to Him.
Try This
Practice being present. When somewhere, try to just BE. For example, next time you have to wait in line, don’t pull out your phone. (Yikes! Right?) We are used to stimulating ourselves with every spare second. Boredom is a natural effect for those who are learning how to BE without needing to constantly DO something. Not every minute of your day has to be productive or stimulating. Our attention needs some training. Practicing being present will help you to become more present to God.
Then Try This
Set aside certain times of prayer to carve out fifteen minutes to simply be with God. Try not to be quick to ask for things. The scorecard for contemplative prayer is not to accomplish something in prayer. Just be present–you and your Lord. Consider using a verse or phrase to keep your attention on God. Something as simple as “Your presence is my good” (inspired by Psalm 73:28) could be like an anchor that tethers you to the moment, while life’s unending demands and your mind’s chaotic thoughts try to pull you away. Some even find a name or characteristic of God helpful to hone in on and meditate on. Consider how God is eternal. He is without beginning or end. Apply the “never-ending” nature of God to His characteristics like His love. This is beyond analytical and spurs wonder. Engage your imagination as much as you need. Some people are quite visual. If so, picture Jesus near you. And as you do, you may discover that the greatest gift of prayer isn’t answered petitions—it’s God’s presence itself. Use passages like John 15 and Ephesians 3:14–21 to be catalysts in contemplative prayer.
Let's bring this home.
Don’t fear desiring more of God and His love—He delights in it. God doesn’t rebuke holy hunger; He rewards it. He wants you to stretch out your life like an empty vessel, ready for an overflow that has no limits. So lift your eyes and expand your expectations: you were made to be filled—not partially, but abundantly—with the very fullness of God.
Discuss
- In your own words, what is your understanding of contemplative prayer?
- Why is this prayer tool and practice valuable?
- “You can have as much of God as you want. You can experience as much of God as you are willing to receive.” Reading this earlier in the module, what was your gut reaction? Excited? Skeptical? Nervous? Process and explain your reaction and what that tells you about your own prayer journey with God.
- Take a moment to read the following passages: Psalm 37:7; 62:1; 131:2. How do these complement our discussion on the soul posture of stillness in contemplative prayer?
- After taking some time to practice this tool, reflect on the following: What was challenging about this practice? What was natural? Does this practice seem more exciting to engage in, now that you have tried it?