One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation

by J. Dana Trent

In secular mainstream America, meditation has become as ubiquitous as yoga. (Americans spend an estimated $2.5 billion annually on yoga instruction.) But how does meditation fit into Christianity, and how does it differ from prayer? One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation reframes meditation for those who are skeptical because (1) they doubt their ability to be still and quiet and (2) they doubt the validity of meditation as a Christian spiritual practice. Using scripture, theology, and examples from the early church, this book challenges Christians' prayer habits that leave little room for enough silence to experience and listen for God.

Using five approaches--breath meditation, lectio divina, centering meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and devotional meditation--One Breath at a Time provides a practical, 40-day guide to beginning and sustaining a Christian meditation practice in an often chaotic world.

Genres: Spirituality, Prayer, Religion, Faith

111 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2018

About the author

J. Dana Trent is a speaker, professor, award-winning spirituality author, and minister. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, she teaches world religions and critical thinking at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Amanda Osenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with a Dad who meditated. He tried to teach me Centering Prayer when I was in High School but I was "too busy." Now almost 20 years later I'm finding myself wishing I could go back in time and have that skill with me for all these years. (although I have participated in lectio divina since middle school which I never really realized was meditation until this book)

J. Dana Trent has put together an incredible book here. It's perfect for those who are skeptical of meditation or who want help getting started. It's easy to read and follow along with. I think it would be an interesting group study as well. I've begun working through the 40-day exercise with my 8-year-old as well. I am grateful to have been able to read a digital advanced copy of this wonderful book!

[Tracy McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I would have definitely considered myself a skeptic in the area of meditation before I read this book. Even though I was skeptical, I found myself to be even more intrigued so I decided to check it out. This book really explains some of the benefits to meditation practices as well as how it fits in with our relationship with the Lord. The author then goes on to explain exactly how to meditate with lots of tips to help the reader along. The best part is the 40 day meditation practice where the reader is actually invited to practice each of 5 different types of mediation for 8 days. I am looking forward to beginning my own meditation practice very soon.

[Diane Beadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who’s wanted to start a meditation practice, or who needs encouragement and accountability for developing a consistent practice. The author is full of humor and humility. Instead of making you feel like she is holier than you, she is real and down to earth and admits her own struggles with meditation. She makes you feel like meditation can be accessible for an ordinary person and gives practical tips for those who find it challenging. The meditation guide at the end is a helpful introduction to several different types of meditation, so you can easily try them out to see what works for you. I also really liked that she gives you a framework for assessing how your meditation practice is going – not in a judgmental way, but in a way that encourages you to figure out what works and what doesn’t. I think this is a book I will keep returning to, and will recommend to others who want to try meditation for themselves but feel intimidated by it.

[Laura Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a Christian who is skeptical about starting a meditation practice, I'd highly recommend this book. One Breath is a practical guide to meditation for "reluctant beginners," providing all the tools you'll need to get started (and keep going!)

Dana is a gifted writer and teacher whose love for God—and her fellow sojourners—breaks through every word. With grace, encouragement, and humor, she takes you through her own meditation journey (with its unexpected detours and potholes). Dana introduces readers to five types of meditation: Breath Meditation, Centering Meditation, Lectio Divina Meditation, Loving-Kindness Meditation, and Devotional Meditation. Following each method, she shares eight guided meditations for readers to try on their own. While several of these are new to me, I'm excited to begin the 40-day cycle and explore them all.

I especially enjoyed learning about the "biblical, historical, theological and evidence-based perspectives" of this important practice in Chapter Two: "The Case for Meditation."

What better way to begin the new year than with this guide to help you grow closer to God one breath at a time?

Note: I received an advanced copy from the publisher.

[Penelope Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana Trent's book is by far the most helpful book that I have read at giving the history of Christian meditation, dispelling misconceptions and fears, and making it easy to understand and practice.

After laying a foundation on the historical precedent of Christian meditation, Trent introduces the reader to 5 variations of meditation: Breath Meditation, Centering Meditation, Lectio Divina Meditation, Loving-Kindness Meditation, and Devotional Meditation. Following the explanation for each method the author provides 8 guided meditations for the reader.

Trent encourages the reader first to practice slowing down one's breath before entering the process of meditation. In yoga we learn to get our poses and breath in harmony with one another. That same concept of using one's breath to slow down is conducive to relaxation before entering meditation. In the beginning the aim is to try meditation for just 3 minutes.

Trent has a gift...she is "down to earth" in her approach. She injects humor in her writing and shares her personal vulnerabilities. If you are seeking to improve your spiritual life, you may find this book helpful. I found it most refreshing.

[Carrie]

I am an extreme extrovert. I am a minister. I am an 8 on the Enneagram. I always have noise on- radio, TV, audio book, etc. And I have tried meditation... a lot. As a teen of the 1990s church world where all good kids had their "daily quiet time," this practice is not new to me. And I have always found it to be hard... and annoying.
When I was asked to be on the launch team for One Breath, I was like, "I will say yes since I like Dana so much."
And wow was I surprised.
This book will give you a sense of calm, a sense of capability, and a sense that you will WANT to make this practice yours.
The two things that I loved most were Dana's honesty in her challenge to mediate and her acknowledgement that faiths can, should and need to learn from one another.
I strongly encourage you to read this book.

[Lisa P Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many benefits from taking time to be quite. The author does a great job on teaching you techniques to do just that. Meditation has always been frowned upon in the Christian world but I have learned over the years that taking a quite time to spend with God affects my whole world in a positive way. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about making some mental, physical and spiritual changes. Sometimes it is in the quite that we hear God speak to us.
I am thankful was given an opportunity to read an advanced copy by the publisher.
This is my honest opinion.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest. I had a really hard time connecting with this book. The writing is good and I feel like it’s sound advice, but I just couldn’t personally connect. I do think it would be helpful for those who are already trying to get into Biblical meditation.

[Lori Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you need to take a pause on life? Do you need to stop and breathe in or maybe loose your temper??? This book helps to adopt the way of meditation. To pause - when needed.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a skeptic; I mean, I was always told Christians do not meditate. However, I felt differently about the subject which is why the title of J. Dana Trent's book drew me in. One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation assuaged all my concerns with scriptural facts and then proceeded to guide me step-by-step in how to begin practicing meditation. I'm half-way through the book and a few weeks into my daily meditation and learning to sit in the stillness with God. I'm feeling a calmness and using breathing techniques to reduce anxiety and quiet my thoughts. Excellent resource for anyone needing to be still and know.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher.

[Jill Kandel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're new to meditation, this is a great book to start your journey!! An accessable, intelligent guide.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy-to-read, yet challenging. Trent wrote a wonderful guide to spiritual meditation. She explained why we should meditate--to slow down and get closer to God--and then provided several different ways to meditate. Having a variety of ways to meditate was really good--this way works today, that way works tomorrow--depending on the amount of time I have and the mood I'm in. The most challenging part was learning to be still. Learning to be still in our busy world is really hard but the benefits are so great.

[Tamlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an accessible guide to finding small pockets of time to begin cultivating a life built on the quiet moments, the moments that connect us to God and remind us who we are and whose we are. The book lays out the what and the why in a way that is clear, and gives practical, step by step instructions on incorporating different meditation practices into every day life. (I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher, but these are my honest opinions!)

[Shannon Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been intrigued with meditation, but I find it incredible intimidating. This book gave me a great understanding of the history of meditation and provided a plan that has made me confident in my ability to start.

[Angela D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide on why and how to meditate with various options and a doable plan. Engaging and enjoyable writing by an author who is well-versed on the subject. Highly recommend!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. Dana Trent's writing is personal, thoughtful, funny, and inspiring. I simply cannot recommend her books enough! She also always seems to be writing exactly what I need to hear at exactly the right time!
I absolutely loved her first book, Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk. Even though I had never met her before, after reading it, I felt like she was already a friend. (Since then, I have had the pleasure of meeting her, and am so grateful!)
Over the past few years, I've become increasingly busy and frazzled feeling, and found myself longing for a more intentional, balanced, and connected life. Just as I was trying to find ways to help with this, I heard about Dana's second book, For Sabbath's Sake, which quickly became another favorite of mine!
And now we have One Breath at a Time, which is helping me with my continued need for intention and connection. It is a little different from her first two books in its unique format as a practical handbook for meditation, and I love this new approach. It also still contains the kind of personal stories and examples that make Dana's writing come to life for me, so I'm thankful for that. I was delighted when I first learned of this book because I knew I needed and wanted to develop a regular meditation practice, but just had not managed to consistently do so yet. I knew that if any book could help me with this, it would be one by Dana Trent! And I was right! One Breath at a Time is incredibly accessible and informative. If you are at all interested in meditation, especially if you are a little (or a lot) skeptical, then this book is for you!!

[Laura Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that has given me a consistent meditation practice that I can actually do. There is no, "sit and be quiet." There are actual instructions and tools that make meditation actually productive. The very helpful background on the history of meditation in religions and in scripture tells you that this is something you can and should do just like early Christians and just like Jesus. After bring fully motivated, you start your practice with just 3 minutes. I have a toddler. Three minutes is doable for me! There is a new practice fully explained for each of 40 days. Over these 40 days, you will learn five different meditation techniques. In every one, you are given something to focus on, something to do during your meditation time. I skipped many days, but I kept coming back because I was actually learning, and I was actually connecting with God. Some days didn't go so well, but the ones that did kept me coming back. The journal prompts after each practice surprised me by really helping me to reflect upon what was and wasn't working and why and how it changed. At the end of the 40 days, Trent offers lots of great resources and ideas to continue the practice and encouraging readers to increase the time to 5 or 10 minutes. In this way, one can use this book to practice meditation for a long time to come and grow closer to God and more grounded in our faith along the way.

[Sharon Hardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to the practice of meditation. Not only does it give some good background on the various practices and history of meditation, but it guides the reader through 40 days of practice -- only 3 minutes of actual meditation each day, but it is amazing how long that can feel at times! Several different methods are featured and all are classic and helpful. Some will appeal more than others, but this approach lets the new practitioner experience the variety of ways to meditate. I was not a novice or a skeptic, but found much of interest. My only criticism -- and it is very subjective -- is that Dana Trent's introduction was a bit "perky" for me. However, we are at least a generation apart in age, so I am probably a bit stodgy about language. I can recommend the book to anybody who wants to start or refresh a meditation practice. In the spirit of full disclosure, I did not practice every day, which is why it took me more than 40 days to finish it!

[Casey217 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was quite disappointing! As a Christian I grew up skeptical about meditation seeing it as an un-Christian practice so I thought this book would be perfect. Unfortunately, it presented meditation in a way that, as a Christian, made me uncomfortable. To begin, the fact that the author is married to a Hindu made me uneasy as that blatantly disregards scripture. Nevertheless I continued reading to hear her out. When describing the methods and basis of meditation, she seemed to pull from other Eastern religions and give it a Christian spin instead of basing it on Christian doctrine first. Even ending with the story of her meditating as the only Christian in a room full of Hindus didn’t sit right with me. I understand Christian meditation doesn’t have to be one size fits all and is more based on what works for you as an individual, so I didn’t mind reading her perspective on methods, hence the 1 star rating.

[Melinda Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent beginners guide to Christian meditation. I have not completed the 40 days of meditations, but the guide is fantastic. There are five different practices shared, with a guide to do each practice for eight days, plus additional tools and resources to tweak each practice. Begin with three minutes a day. I'm hoping to start this soon once I know our fall schedule more clearly, as the best practice is to use the same time each day. This would make a good communal practice for a small group as well as for an individual.

[Betsy Thigpen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana Trent's book, One Breath at a Time is an excellent read, especially for her target audience - skeptics. She offers a beginner's meditation practice that is doable and encouraging with constant reminders that this is about practice, not perfection. Both her personal reflections and her sound theological perspective provide valuable growth opportunities for the spiritual journey.

[L. Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read many books on meditation and have practiced various forms for years, and I can say that J. Dana Trent's book One Breath at a Time is one of the best introductions I've read from a Christian perspective: practical, wise, NEVER preachy, grounded in Christian history and theology, and accessible. For those who have thought they'd like to give it a try, this is a great resource

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and helpful, this book provides arguments for why to meditate and guidance for how to meditate, all while affirming the Christian basis for meditation. I used it at my church for a lenten study and it was appreciated by all. The format the Trent sets up for practicing is easy to follow and quickly develops into a habit. The writing is clear and personal.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one who has practiced centering prayer for some time, I appreciated the sampling of other methods of meditation. Dana makes meditation accessible to newcomers and fresh for “veterans”. And beyond practice, she offers information on the theology and science of meditation. I recommend highly!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this on Kindle. I highly recommend getting a print copy. There are techniques and processes that I would bookmark and to back to frequently. Some Kindle experts may be able to do that, but I can't.

[Laura Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

User friendly and practical guide to meditation. Dana Trent does a good job and making even skeptics believe meditation has spiritual, psychological, and physical benefits!

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a skeptic of meditation, so I can’t speak to whether or not the author can accomplish overcoming that, but this was a quick and informative guide with some good ideas for meditations.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful. But the eastern references were not. This book helped me understand lectio divina means of christian meditation.

[Shevawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be so helpful and encouraging the I plan to read /work through it additional times in the future.