“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness”. Psalm 26:2-3
Have you ever had the experience of driving somewhere and not really remembering how you got there? Or going to an event and not remembering the details after? Or even being with a family member or friend and not remembering much about the interaction?
In today’s world, we have an overabundance of distractions and stimuli coming at us constantly. We live busy lives, overcrowded with work, caring for others, school, volunteering, church, and more. Cell phones and social media have further complicated our lives. It’s no wonder our minds wander! But when they do, we can miss a lot. The fullness of experience, the beauty of nature, and the voice of God can get lost in the chaos of our busy world and drifting thoughts.
You’ve probably heard about the concept of mindfulness. It’s been all the rage recently. Mindfulness is noticing what you are doing, feeling, and thinking at the time you are actually doing, feeling, and thinking it. It involves operating fully in the present. Our bodies always operate in the present moment, but our minds don’t have that limitation. Mine wanders all over the place – through the past, to the future, and back to the present all at lightning speed. During the first six months or so that I practiced yoga, my mind would be all over the place during final pose, when you are supposed to practice mindful meditation. I’d be thinking about all the things I needed to be doing and counting down the seconds until it was over. After ten years of doing yoga, I’ve gotten much better at final pose (aka corpse pose), but still have some trouble focusing from time to time. By the way, corpse pose is my husband’s favorite (and only) yoga pose.
Below is an example where Jesus encouraged us to be mindful and focus on the present:
“See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.” Matthew 6:28
In Christian mindfulness, we can practice “setting our minds on things above.” It gives us the opportunity to practice paying attention to God and focusing on His kingdom.
Romans 12:2 instructs us:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Though Christian mindfulness, we can spend some time renewing our minds and NOT conforming to the multi-tasking, impatient, chaotic pattern of this world.
Here are some practices which can help you to be more mindful:
Do physical activities that fully engage your mind
When you are engaged in physical activity, you are often able to clear your mind because your focus is on what you are doing. It’s also good for your body!
Set a reminder to focus on God
This could include setting an alarm or reminder on your cell phone, watch or calendar several times a day to remind you to take a moment to “set your mind on things above.”
Meditate
This can be as simple as sitting and breathing for ten minutes and repeating a scripture. I sometimes just repeat the name Jesus to myself as I sit and breathe. This type of meditation helps us to be more centered and listen for God.
In the book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren describes meditation as follows:
“Meditation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind…if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate.” Further he says, “No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture…If you look up all the times God speaks about meditation in the Bible, you will be amazed at the benefits He has promised to those who take the time to reflect on His Word throughout the day.”
You can also practice mindfulness in more informal ways throughout the day.
- Whenever you notice your mind wandering, bring it back to the present moment and take everything in through your senses.
- Pause periodically to breathe deeply.
- Talk a walk and use it as a prompt to bring attention to the present, focusing on your surroundings and the sensations you feel.
REFLECT
Are you currently practicing mindfulness?
Try using some of the strategies listed to practice mindfulness for the next 30 days – hopefully it will then become a habit!
