“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2 NIVUK)
On this page:
What is Christian Mindfulness?
Christian Mindfulness: Approaches in Scripture
Mindfulness: Origin and Experience
Five very different modern men mindfully explore faith.
Mental Health and Brain Injury
What is Christian Mindfulness?
Improving attention to, and awareness of, new approaches and wider perspectives by enabling senses to engage in what is real but often hidden behind worldly; noise, busyness and predefined thinking process, categories, rhythms, and desires. Calm, clear controlled obedient thought. Prioritised presence of God in the present moment. (My understanding summarised)
Christian Mindfulness: Approaches in Scripture:
Mindful with God
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
Focus on God, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIVUK)
Mindful Thinking
Consideration of the various (4-12) archetypal relationships, aids self awareness, and ability to control thinking.
MindFULness. As written in, “A book of Sparks” Shaun Lambert. Another favourite read. Filled with awareness and the presence of God (Acts 2:5) Not evil spirits and consumerism.
Remove false thinking. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3 (NIVUK)
Control disobedient thinking: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIVUK)
Think differently and reconsider. This is the meaning of the Greek word met-an-o-eh’-o (μετανοέω) also translated ‘repent.’ (See Strongs references) “The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 (NIVUK)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness;” 1 Corinthains 3:19 (NIVUK)
Be honest, we can be in two minds about our thinking and belief. “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”” Mark 9:24 (NIVUK)
Mindful Sensing, Awareness and Revelation
“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Consider carefully what you hear, he continued. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you– and even more.” Mark 4:22-24 (NIVUK)
“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!‘” Mark 13:37 (NIVUK)
God’s presence may feel small and silent at the start. Another favourite read has been, “Practice of the presence of God” by Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite friar. It’s been around a while, as has Christian Mindfulness.
Our awareness of God might feel tiny, much smaller than expressed by others. It can grow huge adding value and protection to many. Don’t ignore minuscule revelation and awareness of the Kingdom of God.
“Again he said, What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32 (NIVUK)
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zech. 4:10, NLT).
Mindful Focus
Remove distractions: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 (NIVUK)
Control autopilots including desire, status and sin. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.” Romans 7:15-17 (NIVUK)
Escape worldly ways: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world– the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does– comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17 (NIVUK)
Focus on faith not fear in life’s storms. “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:39-41 (NIVUK)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2 (NIVUK)
Anxiety entraps our thinking. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Mathew 6:31-34 (NIVUK)
Mindful Reading Resources
Mindful reading aligns with the Christian, contemplative, centuries old, Lectio Divina approach. Mindful reading, re-reading and learning. Be with text, in text. Don’t just do text to get it done. Take learning into your day. Being > Doing.
Mindfulness: Origin and Experience
Worldy thinking -don’t stay long, where you don’t belong. Mindfulness is a universal God given human capacity. Psychologically and Theologically rooted.
Worry, wealth, fear and desire are barriers to awareness, and the ability to focus attention.
“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Mark 4:18-19 (NIVUK)
Have compassion on self (and others) during discovery. Too self-critical has been a problem for me as highlighted by NHS phycologist, friends, and family. “Where is God when it Hurts” by Phil Yancey, was gifted by a stranger who found my campervan at Naturally Supernatural conference. God had told him what I, his neighbour, needed. One of my very favourite books!
Being, not just doing. Distinguish, accept, and control, internal thinking. Separate the imagined and interpreted from the real. I have often been influenced by internal misconceptions, and the thinking of others. Thinking should align with reality and scripture, not just culture. We need to check internal thinking against reality to avoid getting lost in our own, often downward, emotional, defensive, loveless thinking spiral.
Five very different modern men mindfully explore faith.
The Monastery, an engaging BBC documentary (2005)
This was followed by one where women spent time in The Covent.
Mindful Prayer Resources
The free running mind -Shaun Lambert
(Author, “A book of Sparks” Christian Mindfulness)
65 Bible verses about Mindfulness
Finding Peace in a Frantic World
(Secular support for the serious)
Mental Health and Brain Injury
Mental Health First Aid: England
Christian: Hope after brain injury.
Press Pause for:
Presence–Peace–Prayer–Praise–Petition–Purity–Practice
See Philippians and Psalms below…
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me– put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4: 6-9 (NIVUK)
“Be still, and know that I am God;” Psalms 46:10 (NIVUK)