Present in Prayer by Jenn Tucker (Excerpt)

We love Jenn Tucker. If you missed Breath as Prayer and our interview with her about it, read it here.

We are so honored to feature an excerpt from Jenn’s new book, Present in Prayer. I know so many of you were deeply blessed by her last book on prayer, so make sure not to miss this new release, out everywhere on November 12, 2024. If you want to lend some extra support to our featured author, Ms. Tucker, be sure to pre-order.

Get your copy of Present in Prayer here!

We thank HarperCollins Christian for making this excerpt feature possible! We are excited to share this moment of meditation on the scriptures with you.

An excerpt from Jennifer Tucker’s PRESENT IN PRAYER: A GUIDED INVITATION TO PEACE THOUGH BIBLICAL MEDITATION

Our souls are like seeds that require stillness and the slowness of time for the roots of our faith to anchor us deep in the fertile soil of God’s Word. God knows this. He created us to need times of quiet and stillness with Him.

There are many practices can help us slow down and cultivate this habit of silence and stillness, but one that has been profoundly helpful to me personally is meditation. I have found that a regular practice of meditation can help nurture the spiritual habit of being still, gently guiding us to become comfortable with silence as we participate in the slow and holy process of spiritual growth.

Meditation as a general practice involves mental and physical techniques that train the mind to intentionally focus one’s thoughts and to be fully present in the moment. The practice of meditation is backed by research and has been proven to improve brain health and overall well-being, with benefits that include reducing stress, improving sleep, and decreasing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

There are many forms of meditation around the world, practiced for a variety of purposes. But as I’ve previously written, many of these practices often involve attempting to empty the mind or looking within self to find peace. These techniques may have some benefits, but meditation that is not centered in Christ and His love for us will not lead to true flourishing—it may help give our bodies a temporary reprieve from the physical symptoms of stress, but we miss out on the deeper connection our souls long to have with Christ.

My new book Present in Prayer: A Guided Invitation to Peace Through Biblical Meditation focuses on Christian meditation. Christian meditation, particularly Scripture meditation, is a classical spiritual discipline rooted deeply in the Bible and in ancient Christian practice. Meditation is a holy habit that plays an important role in our spiritual growth. The Bible itself encourages us to meditate regularly—to focus our thoughts on it and to contemplate it in way that causes it to sink deep into our hearts and take root in our souls, changing us from the inside out.: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8 ESV). “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1–2 NIV). “O God, we meditate on your unfailing love” (Psalm 48:9 NLT).

There are many different forms and methods of Christian meditation and a vast number of suggestions, plans, and guides for meditating on God’s Word. The method I have personally found most helpful in cultivating my own spiritual rhythm of daily meditation is a centuries-old practice called lectio divina.

Lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”) is an ancient monastic practice introduced in the sixth century by Benedict of Nursia as a method of reading, praying, and meditating on Scripture that emphasized listening deeply “with the ear of your heart.” Although it is traditionally known as a monastic practice, many Christians today from a variety of traditions have found that it provides a helpful framework for meditation, a valuable practice for spiritual growth, and a way to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16 ESV).

Lectio divina is a way to slow down and linger over Scripture, to savor the Word in a way that brings deep nourishment to the soul. It isn’t a mystical, subjective approach to God’s Word. It’s simply a framework, a rhythm, for a kind of prayerful meditation on Scripture that stills the soul, quiets the mind, and opens the heart to hear the voice of the Lord.

LET’S PRACTICE:

Begin with a time of silence.

Still your body. Slow your breathing. Quiet your mind.

Focus on being fully present in this moment, right here, right now.

OPENING PRAYER

Almighty God,

You are wonderful beyond words.

Your power and glory are beyond compare.

Help me to be fully present right now, fully focused on You and Your incomparable glory.

I invite You to speak to me,

to search my heart and shape my life. Show me what is honorable.

Open my eyes to see You.

Open my ears to hear Your voice. Open my heart to receive Your Word. Open my hands to accept whatever

You give.

Draw close to me, Lord, as I draw close to You.

Amen.

READ AND MEDITATE

“‘To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?’ asks the Holy One.

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.”

Isaiah 40:25-28

Read through the Bible passage three times, taking time to pause and pray and quietly listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart.

LECTIO 1: Read through the passage slowly and consider:

What is one word or phrase that stands out to you?

PAUSE & PRAY

In silence, meditate on this word or phrase.

LECTIO 2: Read through the passage a second time.

This time, pray through the passage, reading phrase by phrase. Talk to God, pausing to listen and respond to Him as you read.

PAUSE & PRAY

In silence, bring your attention to the present moment.

LECTIO 3: Read through the passage a third time.

Continue to contemplate the word or phrase that stood out to you and think about how it may apply to your life right now.

Notice your body: What are you feeling right now?

Notice your thoughts: What are you thinking right now?

Notice your circumstances: What is happening in your life right now?

Compassionately consider these things, and listen to what the Holy Spirit may be revealing to you in light of today’s reading and meditation.

What invitation might God be extending to you today?

SURRENDERING PRAYER

As I prepare to enter into the rest of my day, Lord,

May my pace be slow and unhurried, ever aware of Your presence with me.

May my mind be attentive and clear, noticing the gift of every moment.

May my heart be gentle and kind, showing compassion to myself and others.

My understanding is like a tiny seed in Your vast garden of wisdom.

There is so much I don’t know, so much I don’t understand. But Your strength is infinite, and Your understanding is limitless. You hear all my questions, and You know all my fears.

Today, I praise You and I honor You; increase my faith as I learn to trust You more.

Keep turning my thoughts to whatever is honorable.

Transform me to be more like You.

Amen.

EMBODY

Continue to contemplate the word and invitation God gave you today.

Consider: What circumstances in your life make you feel as though God doesn’t really see your troubles or care about your pain? How can you honor Him and trust Him more?

[Taken from Present in Prayer by Jennifer Tucker. © 2024 by Jennifer Tucker. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. HarperCollinsChristian.com.]

Get your copy of Present in Prayer here.

About Jenn Tucker:

When Jenn’s youngest daughter began experiencing panic and anxiety, Jenn and her family plunged themselves deep into the world of therapy and psychiatry, witnessing firsthand the treatments, tools, and medications for panic attacks, anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental health conditions. As Jenn witnessed her daughter’s suffering and learned to honestly address her own mental health struggles, she became passionate about the importance of mental health, particularly within faith communities. Once a source of shame and fear, Jenn is now an advocate for making mental health a priority.

Jenn and her family have opened up about their journey with mental health because they love Jesus. They believe God’s Word. They trust Him. They believe His plans are good and His purposes are for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. But they have seen firsthand what it’s like to have a serious menta health condition that requires the help of doctors and medications, and they are grateful to have these tools.

The brain is a complicated and beautiful mystery in many ways. We have to care to the bodies that God has given us, and in writing Breath as Prayer and Present in Prayer, Jenn hopes to help others learn tactics to care for their minds and bodies while also growing closer to God. Anxiety — or any mental health condition — isn’t a roadblock to faith but rather a way to grow closer to Christ.