3 Tips to Practice Mindfulness Meditation in Christianity

Some days, the world as we know it can seem like it’s falling apart — and fast. It’s no wonder many of us search for techniques to keep stress, depression, and anxiety at bay. One of the recent fads in pop culture and oldest schools of thought, originating from the Buddhist belief system is mindfulness, which has been described by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D, author, scientist, professor and founder of a mindfulness center, as a state of “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”

What is mindful meditation?

Mindfulness is meant to improve well-being, physical health, and mental health through meditation and repetition. Most mindfulness literature centers around setting apart time, finding a quiet place, getting comfortable, resting in the moment, and meditating. You may be sold, because it’s easy to forget that Jesus taught us “mindfulness” first.

How Do Christians Meditate?

1. Find A Quiet Place

Setting apart time in a quiet place vs finding your “Secret Place” with God. Matthew 6:6 says, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

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Many times Jesus set himself apart and instructed us to do so as well. There are many instances in scripture where we can see the benefits of being intentional about our time with God and a necessary intimate separation.

Psalm 27:5 says, “For he will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock.”

In the practice of mindfulness, having a quiet space is said to prompt your body as a reminder that it’s time to meditate. And about that meditation..

2. FOCUS

Meditation in the Bible can be defined as focusing on God, His ways, His thoughts, His laws in order to grow closer to Him and live life more abundantly. There’s a promise from God Himself in Joshua 1:8 thats says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Isaiah 26:3 (MSG) states, “People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, steady on their feet…”

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As we can see, The Creator of The Universe has continually promised us that if we meditate on Him, He will not only keep us but bless us. For some, biblical meditation can mean completely clearing the mind or focusing on the sights, sounds, and thoughts of the present. The danger in meditating on things other than God and His Word is once we stop focusing on Christ, we allow ourselves to be open to anything and anyone.

3. Be Still

The next step in mindfulness always tends to be getting comfortable and being still. One of the most groundbreaking scriptures I have ever come across is, Psalm 46:10. When my kids are fighting, pots are boiling over, my emails are piling up, I haven’t completed any tasks to meet my business dreams in a while, and my husband needs attention, its so important to remember to just be still and surrender and rest in knowing that God is God and He doesn’t need us to strive.

So I guess practicing mindfulness would’ve been a good idea, had they remembered the part that comes after “Be still.” The scripture goes on to say, “and know that I AM God.” In another instance, during a tumultuous time for the disciples, Jesus exclaimed, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39) And in that moment, the storm around them was immediately quieted! What’s the point of getting in a comfortable position, if after we get up, we haven’t handed all that ails us mentally, physically, or emotionally over to God?

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There is something in us all that is continually seeking, continually questioning, continually searching for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Subsequently, the allure of new age “life hacks” is not alarming in the current information age. According to King Solomon, wisdom is gained from God, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 The best part about that is James 1:5 tells us that if you ask for wisdom, the God who existed before any other schools of thought were ever created by man, who knew you in your mother’s womb, and all the problems you would face, will give you wisdom generously, without finding fault! “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.“

Frequently Asked Questions

What should Christians meditate on? Christians should meditate by focusing on the promises that God made in scripture. Mediation courses, music, and guided tracks should be a reflection of the written word of God. For instance, if God promises that you seek him and you’ll find him. Then the meditation should enrich your spirit to trust that God will answer you called. Here are 11 other promises that God made in the Bible that he won’t break!

Is mindfulness in the Bible? Yes, the apostle Paul was an advocate for having the mind of Christ and being content within the present moment. “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-5 (Read more at Focus on the Family)

Is meditation allowed in Christianity? Yes it Is it OK for a Christian to meditate. Meditation originally came from Christianity. According to Joshua 1:8, we are called to meditate on the word of the Lord daily, so that we can follow God’s laws and remain on the path of righteousness.

Why is meditation dangerous? Meditation can become a sin if we are acknowledging false Gods, self promotion, and unstable doctrine. We must ensure that we are meditating on God’s promises through His revelation and not our interpretation of God’s promises. The prosperity Gospel and Law of Attraction have infiltrated the Church and we must cleanse our minds and be perseverant in protecting our minds from it.

How do Christians meditate? Christians mediate by finding a quiet place, focusing on the promises of God, and being still in the presence of God.

What is mindfulness in one word? According to Merriam-Webster: “The quality or state of being mindful. The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis also : such a state of awareness.”

What is a mindful person? A mindful person is able to be still and at peace with their emotions and thoughts. They are also introspective and able to reflect and open themselves up to divine encouragement, divine criticism, and divine guidance from the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, they do not run from pain and can actively seek God and his promises through quiet and devotional time.