For a long time, I didn’t know there was a difference between meditation and prayer. I was raised around religion, where we were taught to pray, but no one ever mentioned the power of silence, stillness, or listening. I didn’t hear the word “meditation” until much later in my spiritual journey, and when I did, I was told it was dangerous or ungodly.
But something didn’t sit right with that.
Because when I finally allowed myself to meditate, something beautiful happened: I felt God. Not in words, not in a sermon, but in presence. And that’s when I realized, maybe prayer is when I speak to God… and meditation is when I let God speak to me.
Let’s talk about it.
Prayer
Prayer and Meditation: What’s the Difference?
💬 Prayer
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A conversation with the Divine—focused on speaking, asking, thanking, confessing, or praising.
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Often involves specific words, intentions, or requests.
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Typically practiced within religious frameworks, especially in Christianity.
🧘🏾♀️ Meditation
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A practice of stillness, reflection, and listening.
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Can include breathwork, silence, mantras, or visualization.
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Allows one to quiet the mind and become more aware of the present moment—and the Divine within.
Both are sacred. Both can lead you closer to God. But they serve slightly different spiritual functions. One is active (prayer). One is receptive (meditation). And when you pair them together? That’s divine alignment.
Meditation
Meditation Is in the Bible | Here’s Where
A lot of people think meditation isn’t biblical, but it absolutely is. In fact, the word “meditate” appears multiple times in scripture. It wasn’t always the kind of cross-legged silence we imagine today, but it was still sacred reflection and focus on God.
Here are some verses:
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Psalm 1:2 (NIV) “But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
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Joshua 1:8 (NIV) “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night...”
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Psalm 19:14 (NIV) “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord...”
Biblical meditation was focused on contemplating God’s word, His nature, and aligning with His spirit. That sounds a lot like spiritual meditation to me. The stillness was never forbidden, it was sacred. It was encouraged.
Did Jesus Meditate? Let’s Look Deeper
"I found God not in the noise, but in the stillness. Not in the rules, but in the remembering of who I am."
– TUG 🦄
We may not see the word meditate used for Jesus in the Bible, but his practices reflect the essence of meditation:
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Jesus withdrew often to lonely places to pray and be still (Luke 5:16).
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He spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and connecting with Spirit (Matthew 4:1-2).
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He emphasized being still, present, and inwardly focused: “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)
Jesus was deeply introspective. He wasn’t afraid of silence. He used solitude to connect with God, to align, and to recharge. That, my love, is meditation in its most sacred form.
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The Similarities: Prayer & Meditation Together
We don’t have to choose between prayer and meditation. We were never meant to. In fact, when they work together, it creates the most beautiful spiritual dialogue:
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Prayer helps us release our worries, speak our desires, express gratitude.
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Meditation helps us receive peace, guidance, answers, and divine downloads.
It’s like exhale and inhale. We speak to God (prayer), and we let God speak to us (meditation). Neither is better, they’re both part of spiritual balance.
I used to think I wasn’t praying “right” because I didn’t always have the words. But the truth is, I’ve found God more often in the quiet moments, on my floor with incense burning, candle flickering, my hand on my heart, just breathing.
That was where I felt heard. That was where I finally started hearing back.
Meditation saved my relationship with the Divine, not by replacing prayer, but by expanding it.
Closing Thoughts: God Is in the Stillness, Too
Whether you pray, meditate, or both, you’re not doing it wrong. You’re reaching for connection, and that alone is sacred.
So if you’ve ever felt shamed for meditating, or questioned whether it's spiritual enough, this is your confirmation: Stillness is holy. Silence is sacred. And God meets us there, too.
✨ Let’s Reflect Together:
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Do you pray, meditate, or both?
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Have you ever felt judged for how you connect with Spirit?
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What’s your favorite way to create space for divine connection?
💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’ve experienced prayer and meditation in your own journey.
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🧘🏾♀️ Come meditate with me soon—I’m working on something special for us.
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