20
giving Word of God so that something more of our lives is transformed to bring us, every day, a
little closer to the image of Christ" [BD, 133]. To help us in the discipline of meditation,
Demarest gives instruction, for example, in very specific breathing exercises to quiet our souls
and prepare us to listen to God [BD, 130-132], and in very specific methods of meditation such
as lectio divina and the formative reading of Scripture [BD, 136-138]. In addition, he deals with
meditation on other materials such as Christian devotional writings, hymns, and works of art
[BD, 138-14 4].
35
Demarest is no less specific in the practical guidance he gives concerning the
discipline of contemplation, which he defines as "the practice of focusing our inmost being by
fixing the eyes of the inner man on God himself" [BD, 159].
36
He identifies the prayer of the
heart, and one form of it, the Jesus Prayer [BD, 159-160]. He gives specific and direct
guidelines for this ancient, yet neglected form of prayer [BD, 163-164]. He focuses on a specific
contemplative spiritual exercise, journaling [BD, 180-182]. And he links contemplation with the
disciplines of meditation
37
and worship, focusing on specifically contemplative worship styles,
35
Demarest concludes with a balanced discussion on the use of icons in meditation [BD,
144-146].
36
Contemplation is necessary to be able to give to God the openness, availability, and
attentiveness we need to enable our relationship with God to grow. Thus "living contemplatively
is not a luxury" [BD, 158].
37
Demarest writes, "Contemplation is the perfect counterpart to the biblical meditation