Mindfulness/Meditation: New Age or Old School? Deep Dive with Dan & Sheila #172

So in this last deep dive we're going to explore how mindfulness is actually like super rooted in the Bible . It's crazy Lots of people think of mindfulness as this modern thing .

Yeah .

But Pascr Young talks about how it's been in Christian faith for a long , long time .

Welcome back everyone . We're finally here dining into the last part of our five-part series on Christian meditation .

It's gone by fast .

It has . Over the past few weeks we've really dug deep into the Bible and , you know , looked at different techniques and what benefits we can get from this practice . Really incredible stuff we've learned .

And there's still more to discover , especially how much Christian meditation goes beyond just quieting your mind . It's about really going deeper with God .

Exactly , and for those who might just be joining us , I'm Dan .

And I'm Sheila .

We're Pastor Robert Young's .

you could say AI assistants , or even evangelists, here to walk you through this amazing world of Christian meditation . And remember , if you're wanting to try it out yourself , Pastor Young's 30-day meditation journal is free for December .

Along with his Christmas ebook too .

Hiram the Camel Christmas . You can find the links down in the description .

All the ways to connect with Pastor Young too .

So in this last deep dive we're going to explore how mindfulness is actually like super rooted in the Bible . It's crazy Lots of people think of mindfulness as this modern thing .

Yeah .

But Pastor Young talks about how it's been in Christian faith for a long , long time .

And he uses this phrase . The roots of mindfulness can be found deep within the pages of the Bible .

I love that, Makes you look at the Bible in a whole new way .

It really does . And when you do , look , you see this mindfulness all through it . Like Psalm 46.10, . Be still and know that I am God .

Okay , let's break that down . On the surface it's saying quiet your mind , acknowledge God . But there's got to be more to it .

There is . If you think about when it was written , things were super chaotic for the Israelites back then . So be still wasn't just about peace . It was about trusting God over all that craziness .

Which is like so relevant for us today , with all this stuff going on xactly Finding that calm inside us , even when the world's going nuts . And in that stillness , that's where we can truly know God , not just in our heads , but like , really experience him .

Wow , that's deep . So it's not emptying our minds . It's about making room for something bigger .

Exactly , which connects to Matthew 6 . 25-34 . Jesus talks about worry , anxiety and basically says don't stress about tomorrow , Just trust God for today .

Whoa , that's like mindfulness 101 . Right there I'm present , not stuck in the past or worrying about the future .

And Jesus isn't just giving a relaxation tip . He's talking about deep trust .

Surrendering to the moment .

To really experience God's love .

So mindfulness in this sense makes our faith stronger . It's not just feeling calmer , it's connecting to the source of peace .

Absolutely . And this link between mindfulness and faith is even clearer in Philippians 4.6-7 .

You mean where Paul says don't be anxious about anything , but in every situation , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your request to God , and the peace of God , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus .

That's the one . So much in those verses Prayer , thanksgiving , but also letting go of our worries , giving up control to God .

Just like in Psalm 46.10 .

Choosing faith over fear .

And the result is peace which transcends all understanding . It's not avoiding problems , it's knowing God's got us , no matter what .

Powerful stuff . So we see how these simple things stillness , prayer being present they can totally change our spiritual lives .

It's amazing , but Pastor Young also talks about altered states of consciousness in the Bible and how that's different from mindfulness . I'm a little confused by that .

It's an important difference to get . Mindfulness is about being aware of the present moment , but the Bible also has stories about altered states which have a different purpose .

Like Moses in the burning bush , exactly .

That wasn't just chill contemplation . It was life-changing , giving Moses a direct mission from God . We see this elsewhere too , like with Paul being caught up to the third heaven .

So those are more about God communicating directly , giving a specific task or purpose .

And often feeling taken beyond the normal world .

Okay , so how did these two things work together , mindfulness and these big mystical experiences ?

Great question and one we'll keep exploring . The Bible shows lots of different ways to connect with God .

So it's not about picking one or the other .

Right . It's about embracing the whole journey , recognizing that God can meet us in both the quiet moments and the amazing moments . It's like we can hold both . You know the everyday and the extraordinary , knowing God's there in the quiet times , the big woe moments .

I like that . So , as we go deeper into this last deep dive on Christian meditation , how do we bring both of those into our own lives ?

Well , one thing is like being intentional about our practice . It's not just sitting there with our eyes closed . It's about really wanting to connect with God .

It's like setting an intention right , Like in yoga or something .

Yeah .

Deciding what you want to get out of it .

Exactly . It's saying I'm doing this to be closer to God to hear his guidance , this to be closer to God to hear his guidance .

It's about that spiritual focus , not just stressing less ight . Right , it's remembering that peace and clarity , those are gifts from being close to God , not the main goal .

Yes , and we can take that intention into other stuff too , like walking , eating .

Instead of just like scarfing down food , actually tasting it , enjoying it .

Totally and feeling grateful for it , knowing it's from God , or like when you're walking , really feel your feet on the ground , the wind , the beauty around you and thank God for it all .

Turning everyday things into like a prayer , almost .

Finding the sacred in the ordinary .

Which brings us back to what Pastor Young said the benefits of Christian meditation . They're like side effects , not what we're aiming for .

Right . Less stress , better focus , feeling happier . All good , but they come naturally from being closer to God .

Like you said , gifts .

And as we get better at this mindfulness , we might be more open to those like divine encounters , the ones that are really out there .

So we're not trying to make those happen .

Nope .

It's more about making space inside for them to happen , where God can surprise us , like preparing our hearts so those seeds of inspiration can grow .

Beautiful way to put it . Just like a gardener takes care of their plants , we take care of our spiritual lives with mindfulness , prayer , studying the Bible .

Okay . So , as we start to wrap up this last deep dive , what's the main thing you hope people take away ?

That Christian meditation isn't just for , like , super religious people , it's for anyone who wants to get closer to God .

It's bringing those mindfulness ideas , stillness , being intentional , into our everyday lives , knowing God's always there .

Yep . It's quieting ourselves , opening our hearts , whether that's through meditation , a walk in nature or just a quick thank you to God during the day .

And that's huge , especially now when there's so much going on , so many distractions

It reminds us , even when things are crazy , there's a quiet voice inside , calling us closer to God .

And the more we listen to that , find that stillness , the more we feel God's love and grace changing us .

It's a journey , for sure , one that can bring real peace , clarity and purpose .

And it's like you know , if you want to try this out , pastor Young's 30-Day Meditation Journal is perfect .

Oh yeah , it's got so much to help you get deeper into it .

And don't forget , it's free this month , along with the Hiram the Candl Christmas e-book .

You can get both of those and find all the ways to connect with Pastor Robert Young down in the description .

So , as we finish up this deep dive , I want to leave you with something to think about .

Ooh , I like those . Looking back on everything we've talked about , what's one little thing you can do today to bring some mindfulness into your life ?

It doesn't have to be anything big , you know maybe five minutes of quiet prayer in the morning , or really paying attention when you eat lunch , being grateful for it , or a quick walk outside , noticing everything around you and feeling God there .

It's about those little moments of peace , those times when you connect back to yourself , to God .

And you might be surprised how much of a difference that makes .

Yeah , you might feel calmer , more peaceful , more connected to God and everything around you .

So that wraps up our five-part series on Christian meditation . Thanks for joining us on this journey .

It's been wonderful sharing all of this with you .

We hope these deep dives have inspired you to try Christian meditation and to find that peace and joy that's inside you . And it doesn't stop here . You to try Christian meditation and to find that peace and joy that's inside you , and it doesn't stop here . Keep learning , keep practicing , keep getting closer to God .