Most of us have heard of Mindfulness, especially in the secular term. It is about being in the present moment and noticing the world and everything that is around us. It is about our attention and focus. It is about being mindful of the present moment and our surroundings as well as being mindful of our minds. But are you aware that there is Christian Mindfulness is also something we can learn and do?
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What is Christian mindfulness?
In order to get a better understanding of what mindfulness looks like with a Jesus centered approach, ask yourself these questions:
- What is your mind full of?
- Is it full of negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours, on yourself or on something else?
- Or is your mind full of God?
Christian mindfulness is the practice of putting our focus and attention on God, the father, Son and Holy Spirit. It can even be when we are in nature, being thankful for it, enjoying it and knowing that He created it all.
It is about being with Him in the present moment. This can mean spending time with Him, being still with Him; sitting with the Holy Spirit, your sole focus directly on Him, praying and listening to Him too.
What does the bible say about mindfulness?
Throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New testament, scripture is continuously referring to the mind and our focus of attention.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8: 5-8, NIV
These verses are the core of how our minds should be. It reminds us that we need to be living in accordance with the Spirit. To do and achieve this we need to know the Spirit, know God and know Jesus. Reading the word, spending time in worship and prayer and being in His presence will help us to achieve this. If we don’t then, as it states above, we may be guided by our flesh and we can’t please God that way.
By living the way we read in Romans 8, by the Spirit, we can come to experience a full trust in the Lord, which, in turn, helps us to really and truly know His peace, no matter what our situations are.
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3, NIV
It’s all to do with that firm foundation in which we build our faith on. With that firm foundation we can experience God’s peace amidst those storms.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25, NIV
God is our firm foundation and by building our relationship with Him and practising Christian Mindfulness we can live like that house on the rock. Then, no matter what the storm is and how heavy it may be, we will know and trust that God has us in His hands.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Matthew 22:37, NIV
This verse is another core feature on Christian mindfulness. By sitting with God and the whole Holy Trinity, spending time in His presence, we are using our whole being; our heart, soul and mind.
How can a Christian be more mindful?
Firstly, we need to become aware. By learning to recognise any triggers, what our mind is prone to be focusing on, our thoughts and behaviours.
We can ask ourselves the following questions:
- Is there anything that instigates that negative mindset?
- Perhaps, stress, problems, people, memories?
- Do we have any recurring distractions?
- Anything that is preventing our focus and attention from being fully on God?
Once we are aware of these we can then take action.
We are told over and again, in the bible “not to be afraid” but in order to put this into action and know this in our hearts and minds we need to understand God. We do this, again, by reading the word. Studying the word. Applying the word.
Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Daniel 10:12, NIV
You may need to be intentional about your actions and thinking. But rest assured, you don’t have to be stuck with those negative thoughts, feelings and mindsets.
Looking to grow your faith and be more intentional about prayer and bible study? Check out all of our spiritual growth resources!
Did you know that you can literally change these?!?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2, NIV
This verse tells us so! You don’t have to hang on to or feel stuck in that negative or limiting way of being. We can literally be transformed by our minds! Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy, in fact it’s one of the top talking therapies there is! CBT can help us to change our mindsets and ways of thinking. Or “rewire,” if you will.
We can literally rewire our thought processes! But to do so, as mentioned earlier, you will need to be intentional about it. A great Christian mindfulness resource is ‘Christian Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’. Which is a combination of CBT practises, questions and techniques with Christian mindfulness, scripture, prayer and Biblical meditation. It is something that we can all apply to our own minds and life.
When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth
Ecclesiastes 8:16, NIV
The word “applied” suggests that by intentionally applying our minds, by turning it around, our attention and focus, that is, we can come to increase our wisdom and observe, not only what God is doing in our lives but also in the world around us.
Then when we are aware and have begun acting on our triggers and mindsets we are at the beginning of developing that Christian mindfulness.
In summary, Christian Mindfulness is about our focus and attention on the Holy Trinity and everything that God has created. It’s about being in the present moment and “being still” with Him. Remembering that it begins with being aware of our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Then we need to take action and become intentional about our minds and our thoughts and rewire our thinking processes.
Ultimately becoming transformed by the renewing of our minds. Practice Christian Mindfulness today and grow in your relationship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
Lauren is a mum of two beautiful children. She has a BA Hons in Health and social care and also a diploma in CBT. Lauren became a born- again Christian in 2004. She is transparent about her past ups and downs with mental health, depression, anxiety and self- harm. But she has learnt to refocus from unhealthy and negative mindsets and towards Christ. Thus, the name of her ministry, ‘Mindful of Christ’. She is the author of ‘Christian based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’ and ‘Indestructible Faith- prayers & prompts for journaling.’ As a Speaker and Christian Life Coach she helps people to recognize & overcome unhealthy and negative mindsets and helps them to discover and step into their identity and God given purpose.
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