There are many approaches to prayer. Not least because there are many different needs. But greatest of all our needs is to get nearer to Jesus. The most powerful form of prayer for this purpose is arguably Christian meditation.

This article discusses some of special aspects of Christian meditation

Sources Of The Benefits Of Christian Meditation Meditation has a very long history in Christianity and has taken various forms. But meditation on Scripture, and not least gospels, is a kind which has great power.

How does power come about?. From three sources: which work together to bring us closer to God:

1. From Holy Spirit, of course. But this kind of prayer makes a very special kind of requirement on us and on Spirit, and that is expressed in terms of

2. Faith. Obviously, very act of prayer, any prayer, involves some kind of faith. But degree of faith which this form of prayer demands can be quite different than in other forms of prayer.

3. Consistency. To really get into this kind of prayer one needs a daily commitment which is kept consistently. It is often said that "grace builds on nature" and that is very true. In this case it is true because we need to become habitually open to way in which Spirit works within us. We shall not achieve that unless we become habitual in our habits of prayer.

Essentials Of Christian Meditation Christian meditation on Bible is essentially straightforward in terms of what we do and procedure we follow. However, there are many questions and issues which arise from process. Too many to consider in a short article such as this. The subject receives an in-depth treatment in book "The Keys To Meditation" by Keith & Iris Whitehead. But here we can indicate some of essentials and some important benefits.

This kind of meditation should not be confused in any ways with types derived from Eastern religions, such as Hinduism. It is quite different and essentially Christian. Very often it is associated with Ignatius of Loyola because, after his conversion, he developed a particularly clear method of approach.

This involves reading Scripture in a particular way. At its essence is explicitly allowing Holy Spirit to reveal to us nature and meaning of what, after all, he himself has written over centuries.

Everyone in healing ministry experiences failure when praying with others for healing. "Failure" in this connection is simply not seeing healing happen that you prayed for. "Failure" in prayer is never absolute because God always recognises our genuine efforts.

But we can reduce percentage of failures by giving attention to possible causes. This article briefly discusses some of causes and suggests some solutions.

1. Faith The disciples once asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17. 5). His reply may seem somewhat obtuse. He certainly did not respond to them as they expected, telling them what they could do if they had even tiniest amount of faith.

Is there a lesson for us here? Most certainly! It is, perhaps, twofold. Firstly, we use what faith we have got at time. An obvious implication since Jesus did not do what they asked. Secondly, we need to improve quality of faith we have. Another clear, perhaps even clearer implication of Jesus' response.

How? Not easy to give a short answer. But look at life of someone like Smith Wigglesworth. (Never heard of him? You really do need to get down to your nearest Christian book shop!). Reading biographies about create considerable enthusiasm in oneself - at first. Then you might begin to get frustrated after first four or five. Why? Because none of writers (can?) tell you how he came to have such great faith. He certainly did not start with it!

In conversation recently a lady pointed to real reason: "I felt disgusted with myself," she said, "because of great love he had for Lord". That is ultimate key.

2. Time We do not, however, love God in isolation from his people. In his first letter, at 4. 20 John tells us that a person is a liar who says he loves God while hating his brother. Indeed, he says that anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot claim to love God, whom he has never seen.

We need to love those we pray with enough to spend whatever amount of time is necessary to get to root of their problem and so pray effectively for them. Failure here is an important cause of nonhealing.Yet Jesus has commanded us that: anyone who loves God must also love his brother.