Christians adopt meditation as religious practice

Meditation

 Grant Michaels----Meditation is often thought of as an Eastern religious practice.  Do Christians practice meditation and what does it say about the present ways of worship?

It turns out that "meditation is going mainstream," according to a recent religious blog.  But what does this mean in terms of actual religious practice.

The "going within" concept is becoming part of the New Age religions, and has been for some time.  Many of these New Age groups talk about the God within.  However, for mainstream Christians the usual format of worship is prayer as opposed to meditation, although some people see they are compatible.

It's true that Jimmy Swaggart once said that meditating was devil worship.  Still some Christians find the notion of being quiet, solitary and pensive helps create that atmosphere of talking to God that is meaningful, while offering emotional and physical release, that is part of the activity.  Most do not see it as a religious practice but one that simply aids the mind and heart to work together with the body in feeling better.  It becomes a tool for feeling better and a health benefit, like herbals or vitamins or even exercise.

The following scripture seems to give the reasonable directive for Christians as this:   Psalm 1:1-2: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.