Mindfulness, Meditation and The Gospels of Jesus Christ modified- March 3rd, 2022
Matthew 6:25-26 states: "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (v.26) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
The Gospel of Matthew is a book I have referenced often. Somehow I have completed 9 credits in biblical Greek studies. Those 9 credits only teach the grammar and syntax, now starts translation from the Greek, word studies etc. If you know the trajectory of Matthew,
Jesus words address God's glory.
"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith? "
[Matthew 6:27-30 NIV]
Are there Christians who are not at peace? Are there Christians who are hypocritical? Yes. Never mind them, never mind the people who have disappointed you, or have broken your heart. In these troubling times, our personal peace is important to navigating through our lives without lashing out at others and falling short of our best "us" we can be. Is my life perfect? No. But everything is better, sweeter, easier with the Word of God. Being at peace means waiting on God. Trust in him.
I worried that I could write this blog, but "ah," I believe what Matthew tells us, and I must thank God for the blessing in my life, my loved ones and his love. If reading the bible is new to you or even foreign, I can tell you I felt the same, I may have even resisted but not anymore. Being at peace takes practice. It takes focus and a commitment to meditation.
As a born-again Christian, inspired by the word and my baptism, I still did not know how to apply God's peace to my life. I had to learn to meditate, I had to learn how to pray.
I had to learn "mindfulness." Mindfulness has its roots in the ancient religions which teaches one to make time to enter a quiet space and clear your mind of all thoughts and simply be "in the moment". This is the way we should talk to God. In a very quiet space, focused and at rest in our minds. Don't have the time? Make time.
Think about what you do in your day that is a waste of time.
I provided a large part of Matthew 6 here because it offers to us encouragement to receive the freedom from worry thru Faith in God. If you will, dust off your Bible and read Matthew. I eased my way into Bible study this way, and as I felt the release of worries, as I felt renewed, I wanted more! This is when I found a church and a people in Christ to fellowship with. I am no expert, but I value my peace, so I give much time to this focus and less to worrying about what went wrong. This is the faith in Christ in Romans 3:22, for those that believe in Him.
Read more on Mindfulness at: https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-how-to-do-it/
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"
[Matthew 6:31-34 New International Version].
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