Prayer vs Meditation

Editorially reviewed • Educational content

How prayer and meditation differ, overlap and can fit within a contemplative spiritual practice.

Prayer often emphasizes relationship or communication with the divine; meditation often emphasizes attention, awareness or contemplative stillness. In practice, the boundary can blur.

Choose by purpose

Use prayer when you want to express gratitude, petition, confession or devotion. Use meditation when you want to train attention or sit with experience. Contemplative prayer can combine aspects of both.

Continue to our contemplative prayer guide.

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