What is Contemplative Prayer? An Ancient Practice for a Distracted World
As the founder of an organization named Getting Still, I am the first to admit that it’s hard to be still these days. It seems there’s always something vying for our attention. Even when we have a quiet moment, it can be difficult to actually feel quiet.
Contemplative prayer offers a different way.
What is contemplative prayer? It’s a way of praying through silence rather than filling the silence with words. It’s an ancient Christian practice rooted in stillness, listening, and paying attention to God’s presence. Contemplative prayer invites us to slow down and simply be present with God.
While the practice has been around for centuries, it feels especially relevant in a world where distraction is almost constant.
In this article, we’ll explore how contemplative prayer can become part of your everyday spiritual life and how yoga offers an embodied way to enter this practice.
What Makes Contemplative Prayer Different?
The word contemplative comes from the Latin contemplari, meaning “to observe” or “to look closely.” At its root, contemplative prayer is learning to pay attention, slowing down enough to notice what is happening within us and, most importantly, becoming attentive to the presence of God.
Unlike prayers where we bring God our words, requests, or thoughts, contemplative prayer is more receptive. It creates space for stillness, silence, and simply being present with God.
That doesn’t mean trying to empty your mind or reach a particular state of consciousness. Thoughts will come and go. Distractions are normal. The practice is learning to notice your thoughts without getting caught up in them, and gently returning your attention to God.
Contemplative prayer offers a refreshing rhythm in a fast-paced world. It simply asks us to be still, become present, and listen.
How to “Do” Contemplative Prayer
Contemplative prayer is not complicated. It begins with getting still. It teaches you to awaken to the present moment and turn your attention toward God.
Here’s one way to “do” contemplative prayer:
- Find a quiet place. Sit comfortably and allow your body to settle.
- Notice your breath. Notice the natural rhythm of your breathing without trying to control it.
- Choose a word or phrase. Something simple such as “Be still,” “Jesus,” or “Here I am” can gently bring your attention back when your mind wanders.
- Rest in stillness. Rather than trying to force thoughts away, notice them and allow them to pass. When your mind wanders, use your word to bring your awareness back to God’s presence.
- Remain present with God. There is nothing you need to accomplish. The practice is simply an opportunity to be with God.
- Close slowly. Before moving on with your day, take a moment to notice how you feel and carry that sense of stillness with you.
If your mind wanders, that’s okay. It will. Distraction is part of being human. The practice is about noticing when your attention drifts and gently coming back to God.
Contemplative Prayer Examples
Contemplative prayer can look different from person to person. For some, it may mean sitting quietly with God for a few minutes. For others, it might be slowly reading a passage of Scripture and marinating in it, practicing a simple breath prayer, or taking a quiet walk.
Some common forms include: silent prayer, breath prayer, Lectio Divina, centering prayer, Christ-centered yoga, or embodied prayer. Even something as simple as sitting quietly, taking a few slow breaths, and repeating a phrase like “Be still” can become a contemplative prayer practice.
The method matters less than the intention behind it: slowing down, becoming present, and making space to notice God.
Examples of Contemplative Prayer From the Bible
The Bible doesn’t use the phrase “contemplative prayer” in the way we use it today, but the practice of getting still, listening, and turning our attention toward God’s presence is woven throughout Scripture.
We see this in the life of Jesus. Even with the demands of ministry and crowds around Him, Jesus regularly stepped away to pray. Luke 5:16 tells us that He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” There was a rhythm of stepping away from the noise and making space to be with the Father.
The Psalms also give us this language of stillness and meditating. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God,” while Psalm 1 describes meditating on God’s Word day and night.
Then there is Elijah’s encounter with God in 1 Kings 19. After the wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah hears what many translations describe as a gentle whisper or a still small voice. The story reminds us that God’s presence isn’t always found in the loud or dramatic moments. Sometimes, we need to become quiet and learn to listen.
We see something similar in the story of Mary and Martha. While Martha is busy with the work of hosting Jesus, Mary sits at His feet and listens (Luke 10:38–42). Her posture is one of attention and presence.
These passages don’t give us a step-by-step formula for contemplative prayer. Instead, they show a recurring biblical invitation: slow down, become still, listen, and make room for God.
Making Time For Prayer in a Busy Life
For many of us, the hardest part of prayer is finding the space to slow down.
Contemplative prayer doesn’t require an hour of uninterrupted silence. Starting with five or ten minutes can be enough. You might pray first thing in the morning, before bed, during a lunch break, or after a walk or movement practice.
The important thing is consistency, not perfection. A few intentional breaths before reaching for your phone. A quiet moment before a meal. A slow walk without headphones. A pause between activities to notice your body, your breath, and God’s presence.
Over time, these small pauses can become part of the rhythm of your day. You may find yourself moving a little less hurriedly, noticing more of what is happening around you, and becoming more aware of the God who is present even in the middle of ordinary life.
How Yoga and Contemplative Prayer Work Together
There is a shared invitation at the heart of both yoga and contemplative prayer to slow down and become present.
For some, yoga can become part of that rhythm. Instead of feeling like one more thing to fit into an already busy day, movement can become a way to slow down, care for the body, and make space for God at the same time.
You don’t always have to choose between stewarding your body and spending time with God. With intention, the two can become part of the same practice.
For a Christian, that practice of presence is an opportunity to remember: God is here. God isn’t waiting for us to become still before He can be present. He is already present. The practice is learning to quiet the noise and become aware of that presence.
Christ-centered yoga can offer an embodied entry into some of the skills that support contemplative prayer.
Through the eight-limbed path of yoga, we learn to pay attention to the rhythm of our breath, the posture of our body, and the movements of our mind. We notice where our attention goes and, when it wanders, practice gently returning.
Over time, this practice can make us feel more comfortable with stillness. Breath, movement, meditation, and noticing become ways of slowing down and making space to notice God’s presence.
When practiced through a Christian lens, yoga can become an embodied form of prayer and a way into contemplative prayer. It teaches us to pay attention to our bodies, our breath, our surroundings, and ultimately to the presence of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is contemplative prayer?
Contemplative prayer is an ancient Christian practice rooted in stillness, listening, and paying attention to God’s presence. Contemplative prayer invites us to slow down and simply be present with God.
How do you do contemplative prayer?
Contemplative prayer can look different from person to person. For some, it may mean sitting quietly with God for a few minutes. For others, it might be slowly reading a passage of Scripture and marinating in it, practicing a simple breath prayer, or taking a quiet walk.
What does the Bible say about contemplative prayer?
The Bible doesn’t use the phrase “contemplative prayer” in the way we use it today, but the practice of getting still, listening, and turning our attention toward God’s presence is woven throughout Scripture.
What are some examples of contemplative prayer?
Centering prayers, lectio divina, and breath prayers are different examples of contemplative prayer.
Want to Lead Others in Contemplative Prayer? Explore Yoga Teacher Training
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If you’re drawn to yoga as a practice of presence or want to bring contemplative practices into the way you serve others, our 200YTT offers a foundation for deepening your own practice and learning to guide others.
