Since 2012, the number of adults meditating more than doubled with 35 million Americans saying they have either meditated or practiced yoga at least once in the last year, according to a 2017 CDC study. In fact, it’s one of Americans’ most popular health trends. However, what has been the popularity of meditation amongst Christians who in the past feared meditation as a new age practice that called for emptying their minds or worshiping false gods?
In the last 10 years, meditation amongst Christians has also skyrocketed with some Christian meditation apps boasting thousands of subscribers and Biblical meditations filling YouTube channels for everything from reducing stress to resting in God’s presence.
Author Rhonda Jones, known as The Christian Meditator, has been at the forefront of the Christian meditation movement with one of the first Christian meditation websites on the internet, The Christian Meditator, guided Christian meditations CDs, and annual retreats. “When I started teaching Christian meditation in 2005, there were only a few sites on the internet,” said Jones, “and many Christians didn’t know if they should be meditating or not.
It was meditation and the scriptures that helped Jones overcome years of depression. “I basically stumbled upon meditation,” said Jones, “and after using meditation to heal my depression wanted to teach it in a way that Christians could embrace.”
Now Jones is introducing her new book, The Christian Meditation Journal, to help Christians learn how to meditate effectively in daily easy lessons. “Christian meditation is a discipline that is cultivated over time,” said Jones. “Many Christians give up believing they aren’t doing it right. Others want to meditate, but only in a way that honors God and their faith,” she stated.
“There is a lot of controversy around meditation within some churches,” stated Jones, “however, I see Christian meditation as an opportunity to connect with God on a deeper level. It’s “be still and know God” in action (Psalms 46:10). As we quiet our minds, it’s so much easier to bring every thought captive,” she declared.
The Christian Meditation Journal addresses all these concerns. As Christians work through the journal, they learn why they need to meditate and how to meditate to restore their peace of mind, reduce stress, deal with negative thoughts, heal past hurts, and draw closer to God.
The Christian Meditation Journal is available for purchase on Amazon and Rhonda’s website: https://christianmeditationjournal.com.
(SOURCE: Serenity Enterprises via Christian Newswire)