People think that because I often appear calm or peaceful, that is my natural inclination. But that is not true (ask my family)! Finding peace takes a lot of practice. 

I began exploring Christian Meditation after my health crisis in my early 30s (17 years ago). My meditation practice today does not typically look like sitting on a pillow in the corner of a candle-lit room (although that is fun too). I often meditate in my bed, in my car (see my Instagram post this week), on my couch, on my yoga mat, or outside under a tree. 

A lot of people find meditation to be an intimidating practice. For Christians, it can even be scary. But it does not need to be intimidating or scary. If prayer is talking to God then meditation is simply quieting our minds and listening to God. And, I long to listen to God whenever possible!

The practice of listening to God through meditation helps us find inner stillness. We are not striving for anything at all, we are simply sitting in God's presence and giving ourselves a break from thinking. Meditation quiets our minds, even if getting there feels loud and noisy. 

Meditation is beneficial at any time of day but I find a morning meditation sets the tone for my entire day. Before the "doing" of the day begins, I simply get to "be" with God. It's a great way to cultivate peace of mind, better relationships, self-esteem, clarity, and presence in all that is ahead. There are so many scientifically proven benefits to meditation, I cannot list them all in this post.  

Let's just say the benefits of meditation are worth the 10-20 minutes it costs me in the morning. The world moves at a fast pace, and most of us face stress and pressure daily. While we cannot avoid life's circumstances, we can face them with the best version of ourselves - with calm minds and peace in our hearts. Meditation helps cultivate these. 

Ready to get started or re-started? Here are 7 tips for finding inner stillness through meditation:

1. Pick a place to meditate (your closet, your car, your bed, your couch, your bathroom, or anywhere you can be uninterrupted).
2. Sit tall and focus on your breath. 
3. Set a timer or consider using calming music or a guided meditation if you need more companionship.
4. Put your phone on airplane mode or do not disturb.
5. Consider holding something (a cross, prayer beads, a crystal, your Bible), so you are not tempted to pick up your phone. Or, simply open your hands as a symbol of receiving God's presence. 
6. When your mind wanders, acknowledge your thoughts and let them go, then return to your breath. I use a sacred word (my word is peace) to come back into the quiet with God. 
7. Practice this daily for 7 days and notice how your days go. 

​I hope these tips help you find inner stillness. And if you're seeking further companionship in meditation, remember the Exploring Peace Meditations podcast is a great tool when you're feeling stuck or need some companionship.

What's your favorite place to meditate? 

​Listening for God can sound like an intimidating concept. Listening for God with your body sounds even more intimidating to some. Yet pausing to listen for God does not have to be hard or overwhelming. This little sentence of truth washes over me now after years of expectations. Expectations of how I should approach quiet time with God. Expectations of what it should or should not look like to worship my Creator. Expectations of the outcome after having spent time with God. Maybe those were expectations I placed on myself, maybe they were expectations others placed on me, I’m not certain. However, I am certain that today I celebrate in releasing all expectations and simply find joy in pausing to listen for God with the gift of my whole self in new and creative ways.

On my spiritual formation journey, author (and now friend) Kristen Vincent’s work with prayer beads has shaped me and my listening. Over the years, I have offered workshops and retreats inviting others to create their own prayer beads to draw nearer to God using her book, A Bead and a Prayer. There is something special about this anchor of sorts in my hand. A set of beads which I enjoyed crafting with the intention of drawing me nearer to God. Prayer beads help me slow down in my own body when I hold them or wear them. They also invite me to pause and pray when I see them with my eyes on my nightstand. The simple act of seeing or holding a set of beads encourages me to breathe in the presence of God. Our bodies are remarkable and a simple reminder to be present in our own selves, drawing us nearer to our Creator.
My work invites others to use their very own body to draw nearer to God and listen. After attending one of Kristen’s workshops, I was so inspired by Kristen’s journey and her invitation to pray with beads that I created this prayer for me and for you. Allow this prayer to invite you to pray not only with your beads, but also with your body on the journey of listening to God.

Holy Listening with Prayer Beads
by Whitney R. Simpson

Cross: Creator God,
Invitatory Bead: give me ears
Resurrection Bead: to listen for you with the gift of my whole self – breath, body, and spirit.
1st Cruciform Bead: With each breath I am reminded you give me life.
Week Beads, Set 1: (Praise God for each breath and how it allows you to…)
2nd Cruciform Bead: Forgive me when I do not love my body as you intend.
Week Beads, Set 2: (Confess to God the ways in which you do not love your physical self as God intends…)
3rd Cruciform Bead: Holy Spirit, you are within me, for this I give thanks.
Week Beads, Set 3: (Give thanks for the Spirit within and the ways in which you recognize this…)
4th Cruciform Bead: Maker, I give thanks for the gift of the whole self and your dwelling within.
Week Beads, Set 4: (Praise God for noticing the connection of ways in which your breath, body, and spirit allow you to listen for God…)
Resurrection Bead: Giving thanks to the Creator,
Invitatory Bead: I receive the holy in what you may have me hear today.

Cross: Amen
Meditation: Thank you for the gift of listening for you God with my breath, body, and spirit.

Are you interested in creating your own prayer beads using Kristen's model to practice this prayer? Join me on Saturday, November 17th from 10 AM until Noon for a time of mindful crafting and prayer at Bloom Yoga Studio in Lebanon, TN. Click here to register.

This prayer and post originally appeared on Kristen's blog in March of 2017.

To tell you the truth, I've always loved beads! But in the last few years, my appreciation has grown as I began using them in my prayer life. A couple of years ago, I discovered a little book called A Bead and A Prayer by Kristen Vincent (click here to read my post on discovering protestant prayer beads). That is where I learned that the modern English word “bead” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “bede,” meaning “prayer.” And just like that, my love for beads grew exponentially!

Today, I am sharing just a few tips I learned from Kristen and her husband Max (you can click here to see their site and dive in a little deeper). I had a chance to connect with them both at SoulFeast this summer at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina. I really enjoyed meeting the faces behind their work and hearing how others use prayer beads in their life during their workshop.

One thing you should remember, prayer beads are simply a tool for more focused prayer. There is nothing special about the beads, although they can quickly become special as you spend time in prayer with your set.

Also, there is not a right or wrong way to pray with beads. Some people pray for a person with each bead and others say specific prayers to accompany the beads. Some read scripture and then reflect with beads in hand or pray as it relates to the passage with each bead. For me, I most enjoy simply holding the beads as I read or pray - as an anchor - to remind myself that my intention during that time is to be with God. 

Finally, whether or not you have a set of prayer beads at home, you can explore praying with beads! Pick up a simple beaded bracelet or keychain (a starting/ stopping bead is helpful if you don't have a set of prayer beads but not required if you're simply holding the beads), you may be surprised with what you have around the house. And, if you're feeling crafty, or curious, Kristen has instructions and a great model for praying with beads on her site (click here to learn how to make your own prayer beads). And yes, there is also an online store where you can discover beads already made or kits to assemble on your own!

I hope you'll plan to spend time this week exploring beads and see how they may impact your quiet time. My prayer beads are either on my nightstand or near my chair where I pray and write. And as today's passage reminds me, while I may often struggle being present, sometimes all I need is a simple reminder to do what is right. 

My prayer beads remind me to slow down and talk with God.