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 recalling how you got there? Or going to an event and not remembering the details afterward? 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 from different directions. 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.
Many of us also bear the burden of constantly allowing our minds to run off into the future. We speculate about what will happen or rest our hope on the achievement of some future state. I personally feel that I’ve missed a lot of my life focusing on what will happen in the future instead of living in and enjoying the here and now. To further distract ourselves, many of us also think about and lament past experiences, but the Bible tells us to “forget the former things, do not dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18).”
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. 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).” Through mindfulness, we can practice “setting our minds on things above”. This allows us to practice paying attention to God and focusing on His kingdom.
HERE ARE SOME PRACTICES TO HELP YOU 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. Bonus – 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 breathe or pray.
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 to God. Rick Warren says that if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate as it involves reflecting on something over and over in your mind which is what we do when we worry.
Other Tips:
- 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 thirty days – hopefully, it will then become a habit!
Thanks for sharing! Just why I needed to hear today.