Jesus promised a quality of life to his followers, which he called the kingdom of God, or the kingdom of heaven. This quality of life is marked by unconditional love (especially for the powerless), forgiveness, peace, honest encounters with evil and injustice, healing, and freedom from all kinds of captivity. As we live into our Christly identity, we experience the kingdom more and more; we experience Christ's life in us to a greater degree. Prayer helps us in this regard, and contemplative prayer does so in an intensified way. It moves us into the kingdom that Jesus promised; it helps us to become Christ.
— Brian C. Taylor, Becoming Christ