Mindful Christianity is the discipline of practicing the presence of Christ in our hearts and mind by not letting our thinking and thoughts distract us. Instead, it concentrates our minds on embracing the fullness of God in the present moment. There is always the opportunity for the moment to be richer and fuller if you observe the inspiring details of what is happening around you. We see and gain insight into the hidden motivations for why we do what we do and why we react the way we do to what happens to us in life. It provides new insights into growing our relationships and connections with everything and everyone around us. (When Does the Kingdom of God of Heaven Come to Earth?)
Life is a mystery and often exhausting. As you read this article, your mind qualifies and analyzes whether it is worth your time and effort. You made several choices to read it up to this point, and the question is, does it resonate for you to stop and investigate the beauty of being alive right now? The question is not, can you, but will you pause and be aware of what it means to be fully alive and energized in this present moment?
Meditation and the practice of mindful Christianity can pause the stream of time created by our thinking. If you are thinking about your past, it is thinking. If you are looking to the future, it is thinking, and when you overthink, you have trouble sleeping at night. We unconsciously live on automatic pilot, living life trapped in the thoughts of the past or the future and unaware of the sacred peace available to us found in the wholeness of Christ at the moment. (A Moment of Awakening)
The truth is, as we learn to focus, meditate or do anything in the silence or moment, we get bored quickly. If we use our breath to focus on God within a breath or two, we get restless and say we are out of here and vacate the premise. That is the story of our lives. I would rather be doing anything but what I am doing right now. I continually seek a person, object, or activity to satisfy my fickle desires and capture my attention. The question is, will I let the presence of God inhabit this perpetual moment in my mind. Is it possible that I can be fully awake with no agenda other than being fully alive and aware of the goodness of God in my life? (Contemplation: Seeing the World through God’s Eyes)
Those moments of silence or pause become your friend, and the stillness calms your soul as you realize you don’t have to shut off all the thoughts in your head to find peace and rest. Even though our minds are plagued by thoughts and weighted with unbelievable narratives and emotions of what others may have done to us, we can let the love of Christ release us from the bondage they create in our minds. We can rest in the awareness of God’s presence without having to shut out any of those troublesome thoughts. You can at any moment focus on the love of the crucified Christ at any time of the day that you are awake. Walking, sitting, working, it does not matter. You can become aware of the present moment and find peace at that moment with yourself and with God. (The Goal of Contemplative Prayer)
Reflection:
Imagine the change if we could cultivate the thoughts in our minds to become still and aware of the presence of God moment by moment in our lives. Suppose we took the time to know ourselves and practice loving God and focusing our awareness on not judging others but loving others. Then, in the stillness, let the other-centered love of God change your heart and destiny day by day.
Prayer:
Lord, I need your help. My thoughts overwhelm me, but I trust your promise that you are always with me. The one thing I ask is to dwell in your presence and let your love change my heart. I release all my cares into your loving arms. Let your light shine on me, and may I gaze upon the face of Christ Jesus. Amen
Scripture:
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Romans 13:11 NIV
For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28 NIV
For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being. Job 12:10 NLT
