The Scandal of Contemplative Prayer...

On contemplative prayer (a common term used by church Christians pro and con): if you're just 'contemplating' your navel then, yes, it's inane and something the devil is very happy to have you doing. If, on the other hand, you are observing yourself and the world about you while being aware of God in the moment in a way that requires a basic level of internal presence that the average shallow church Christian just doesn't have then that is a different thing.

And if the practice doesn't provoke and make your "old man" fight back then you're not doing anything...

The flesh wars with the Spirit (and true practice of presence accumulates the Spirit into you). This friction is not to be avoided. It is to be welcomed. You can't extend your limits and develop control of the dark, confused, chaotic mass of your inner being unless you provoke your limits and engage in the necessary warfare... Ideally what is being called 'contemplative prayer' provokes this friction. Of course, the devil doesn't want you doing this kind of prayer, so he will notice you and confront you, and his followers - operating on pure unconscious instinct - will confront you as well... Not to mention, again, the "old man" in you. Do you want this? Do you value the practice of the faith?