Understanding Mindfulness Through the Lens of Christian Faith

As we navigate a culture saturated with distractions and strife, the biblical call to stillness and reflection becomes increasingly relevant. However, many believers fear that mindfulness, with its association with Eastern spirituality, might conflict with Christian teachings.

I get it. That used to be me, until I had no choice but to find solutions outside of the box of beliefs within which I had tried to find safety. For this follower of Christ, mindfulness and meditation were the key to unlocking a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Bracing for It Around My Christian Friends

In writing The Mindful Photography Field Guide, I feared that I’d get shunned by fellow Christians for being too “new age” and dismissed by my Buddhist friends for intermingling a bunch of “God” references in a book with “mindfulness” on the cover.

For many Christians, mindfulness suggests a practice detached from God, focusing inward instead. Some Christian critics argue that mindfulness encourages a sort of navel-gazing that can lead to a self-centric worldview, contrary to the Christian mandate to love and serve God and our fellows.

On an even deeper level, believing in the Bible comes with an outlook on how the spiritual world operates. Throughout scripture, we hear of Satan and the beings that do his bidding. Ephesians 6:12 refers to spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. However you want to refer to it—whether it be the Devil, Satan, The Enemy, or the Dark Side—there seem to be menacing unseen forces out there, in an all-out battle for our minds.

Despite these concerns, it’s essential to understand that mindfulness, at its core, is simply about being present in the moment. This fundamental aspect of mindfulness isn't foreign to Christian teachings. In fact, Scripture is replete with invitations to meditate on God’s word and remain present in His presence.

Biblical Encouragement for Present-Mindedness

The Bible itself offers numerous examples of meditation and contemplative prayer, encouraging believers to seek a deeper connection with God through reflective silence. Verses like Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” highlight the importance of quieting our minds to recognize and revel in the sovereignty of God. These moments of stillness are not about emptying our minds but filling them with thoughts of God, His promises, and His works.

Mindful Photography as a Gateway for Christians

For Christians grappling with the idea of mindfulness, mindful photography can serve as a practical and spiritually enriching entry point. This unique approach combines the art of seeing with the spiritual practice of presence. Through mindful photography, believers can engage with their environment in a way that celebrates creation, enhances appreciation for the present moment, and heightens our ability to hear the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit.

Photography as a practice can transform an ordinary moment into a profound encounter with beauty and truth. It requires one to be fully present, considering not just the technical aspects of the photo but also the deeper story being told through the lens. This discipline mirrors the Christian practice of contemplation, where one seeks to see beyond the surface, discerning deeper spiritual truths.

Overcoming Spiritual Noise Through Mindful Practices

Many Christians today express feeling disconnected from the faith of their childhood amidst the incessant noise of modern life. Mindful photography offers a way to silence the chaos and focus on God’s creation, which can be a powerful reminder of His presence and promises. It is an active form of meditation that encourages participants to engage with their surroundings mindfully, fostering a sense of peace. And let’s face it—isn’t inner peace what we are all seeking?

Embracing a Renewed Mind

Personally, it wasn’t until I started taking meditation practices as seriously as church and Bible studies that I started to understand the ideas Paul was expressing with the idea of renewing the mind (Romans 12:2) and the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

By incorporating mindful practices like photography into our spiritual routines, we can combat the distractions that plague our thoughts and obstruct our spiritual growth.

The Rich Tradition of Christian Contemplation

Just look at the many denominations and Bible translations, and how many jokes Christians tell about each other, and you’ll see how diverse this one group of people can be. I still chuckle when I think back to my childhood in my hometown Baptist church. About an hour into the service, the preacher would say, “No need to look at your watches, folks. The Methodists have already beat us to lunch.”

What I didn’t realize growing up in the church was that there are other Christian traditions deeply rooted in stillness and contemplation. For instance, the “Desert Fathers,” beginning in the 3rd century, formed the basis of Christian monasticism. I came to learn the practice of “Centering Prayer,” a silent form of prayer created in the 70s by Father Thomas Keating and fellow Trappist monks in response to the influx of Asian meditation methods. I finally got a taste of stillness—of slipping into that mysterious place of calm awareness. I was finally experiencing peace amidst unsolved problems.

Don’t Knock It ‘Till You’ve Tried It

Christians, please don’t get offended. Let’s learn to laugh at ourselves, OK? I interact with so many believers who would choose jumping into a fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over sitting in silence and stillness on their butts for 5 minutes, eyes closed.

Have you ever sat in silence with your eyes closed, timer set for 5 minutes? I’m intrigued by the number of believers who have detailed arguments against meditation, even though they have never tried such a simple act of discipline. If you feel resistance to stillness, ask God what’s going on. Ask if sitting in His presence, breathing in stillness will deepen your experience with Him. It may be the Spirit has been inviting you into deeper waters, where the space below the surface waves is calm and still.

Claim Your Divinity and Learn to Sit with Unpleasant Thoughts

If we are called to live the life of Christ, the ability to rule over our thoughts is paramount. In the period of my life when I experienced dark depression, I was in a full-on battle with the Enemy, in the form of thoughts. During that time you could have repeated “take every thought captive!” a thousand times and it wouldn’t have helped. It took dedication and practice.

At a certain point, I had to spin around and punch the bully in the nose. That doesn’t sound very mindful, does it? But you see, with all of the “allowing” we refer to in mindfulness, there must first be the intention to take the wheel from our thoughts and let the unruly child of the mind be safely strapped in beside us. You’ll still hear the chatter, but this time the little rascal won’t drive you into the ditch.

Claim your divinity and then learn to sit with unpleasant thoughts and body sensations. You can do this. Breath after breath, learn to accept this moment fully, always knowing that your battles are being fought for you.

Practicing presence is just that: practicing. And believe this walking miracle, developing the ability to sit and just be with Jesus is a mighty powerful thing.

Blessings,
Joe

PS:

If you found this post helpful, you'll love my book, The Mindful Photography Field Guide: 15 Smartphone Photography Practices for Inner Peace. It’s packed with practical tips and inspiring stories. Ready to dive deeper? I also offer one-on-one coaching to help you master mindfulness through photography. Reach out to me via my contact form. Let's connect and transform your journey together!