You may be familiar with fans of meditation or followers of Buddhism talking about their daily 'sitting practice'. Christians can have a daily sitting practice too. In fact it's a very important and healthy part of our prayer life. Jesus commended Mary for taking time to simply sit at his feet (Luke 10:38-42). That's all we're doing in Christian contemplative prayer.
Do you have a practice of sitting in silence in Jesus' presence?
Some Christians find it helpful to make this a regular daily thing. Some Christians find that 15-20 minutes each day works well for them. I know several Christians who spend 30 minutes a day in this kind of wordless prayer. Those who promote Centering Prayer, which is one way of describing this kind of prayer, suggest a daily practice of 20 mins in the morning and 20 mins in the evening.
You don't need to sit in the lotus position or cross legged for this kind of prayer. You could kneel on a prayer stool or sit in a normal chair. You could practise this kind of prayer in your room or in a 'prayer corner' in your home, or in a church or chapel.
When praying in a church or chapel, many Christians find it powerful to pray in the presence of the Reserved Sacrament. (This is the Holy Communion bread that has been prayed over and is kept in a special box in a church or chapel. This can be found in a lot of Anglican churches and chapels. A candle burning nearby indicates that Jesus is present in a special way in this bread.)
Some Christians find it helpful to close their eyes while sitting silently with Jesus. Others find it helpful to focus their eyes on a candle or a Christian image in front of them. Some find that occasionally using a Christian word or phrase helps them to focus if their mind is wandering.
This is a form of prayer beyond words. It is two people who love each other sitting in each others presence in silence.
What factors might you need to consider to try this kind of prayer for the first time or to turn it into a regular practice? Is there a time of day and a place that would work best for you? What will be the length of your 'Christian sitting practice'? (Tip: I find it helpful to use the timer on my phone. If I intend to sit with Jesus in silence for 20mins I just set the timer to 20mins. That way I don't need to look at my watch while praying, or worry about the time.)
Why not try experimenting with this form of prayer for yourself. If you've never tried it before, how does it feel praying in this way for the first time? If you can get to the place where it becomes a daily practice, what difference does it make to your relationship with Jesus and to your life as a whole?