Can christians practice mindfulness?

There are a lot of misconceptions on mindfulness out there and many Christians believe it to be demonic.

Granted, there are definitely ways in which meditation and mindfulness practices can be used in an ego-centric way...

But today I’m discussing how the right type of mindfulness can actually help you connect with Jesus in a profound way.

First, What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness involves practices that bring attention to the present moment, whether through meditation, breathwork, or movement.

It trains the mind for enhanced focus, reducing impulsiveness, and increasing awareness of intentions, thoughts, words, and actions.

Studies indicate that these benefits lead to peace, joy, love, and a decrease in

stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, illness, and pain.

God said, "Be Still, and know that I am God"

God created us in His image, he designed our minds and bodies for us to use to experience more heaven. And we can do that in stillness.

What Mindfulness is Not

Mindfulness is not about emptying your mind, being passive, or doing nothing.

Mindfulness is about fully experiencing, observing, and appreciating the present moment - God's creation.

It is about becoming aware of our own awareness. It is about turning our attention inward toward our eternal, infinite, formless - soul - within us.

This is what Jesus called eternal life. In this way, we can connect more deeply with the presence of God.

It's exactly as Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you."

Meditation is not a means to attaining fleshly desires... it is about letting go of the ego and pride (a deadly sin).

Does the Bible Mention Meditation?

The Bible mentions meditation 42 times, emphasizing being fully present, humble, and egoless.

These are just a few verses bridging biblical wisdom with the scientific benefits of mindfulness:

The Bible says, “Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:6-11

• The enemy preys on the mindless wanderer lost in worldly desires, and he fears those who are fully present, aware, alert, and awake to the truth.

“I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6

• The kingdom of God wants you to wake up and be welcomed into His kingdom. To 'be still".… in stillness you allow yourself the space to connect deeply with the Lord.

When Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

• He meant to deny the mind-made sense of identity and to behold Him, reverence Him, and invite Him. And in order to truly reverence Him we must let go of our ego / dignity. Give Him true Lordship over our lives with true surrender.

“Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4

• Jesus is referring to how wordy distractions in the mind can get in our way and block us from receiving God's will through us.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

Visualization is another kind of mindfulness practice, and Jesus did encourage it in prayer.

"God blesses those who are humble (egoless), for they will inherit the whole earth." Matthew 5:5

To become humble and egoless is to let go of all pride and sense of self, to just be present as an instrument of the Lord.

In the Bible, God said: "I am that I am." Exodus 3:7–8, 13–14

God is everywhere and God is eternal. To experience the timeless, infinite nature of our being is God-conscious.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted" Matthew 6:22

• Jesus is referring to seeing clearly, unobstructed by thoughts and judgments.

Jesus spent many hours a day sitting in meditation.

We humans lost our way of being once we developed cities filled with constant

distractions. But Jesus understood this. This is why he went into the desert for 40 days.

So, is Meditation a Sin and Can Christians Meditate?

Observing the present moment through mindfulness is not a sin; rather, it invites the Holy Spirit's presence, allowing us to feel God's unconditional love.

Be Aware and Be Present...

Paying attention to what is happening in the present moment is science-based and is not excluded from the Bible.

Stay tuned for a series coming soon, where I will dive deeper into mindfulness (specifically breath and meditation), emphasizing its proper practice (not the ego-centric or even demonic way) and exploring the biblical view on breathwork.

Originally published February 8, 2024 on the Women Led By Faith blog. Archived here as originally written.