Proponents of contemplative prayer would respond with, What about
Psalms 46:10? “Be still and know that I am God.” This verse is often used
by those promoting contemplative prayer. On the surface, this argument
can seem valid, but once the meaning of “still” is examined, any contemplative
connection is expelled. The Hebrew meaning of the word is
to slacken, cease, or abate. In other words, the context is to slow down
and trust God rather than get in a dither over things. Relax and watch
God work. Reading the two verses just before Psalms 46:10 puts it in an
entirely different light from that proposed by mystics:
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations
he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease
unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth
the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be
still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (KJV)
This isn’t talking about going into some altered state of consciousness!
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