Christian mindfulness is not the latest self-improvement gimmick or one more expression of the idolatry of American individualism. Any spiritual practice, Christian or otherwise, can become perverted by self-absorption. However, the proper telos of all Christian spiritual practices, including mindfulness, is not self-improvement. Rather, the proper

Through Christian mindfulness, we also discover God’s presence with us in the middle of our messy lives and messy world. We alone cannot heal our lives or heal the world, but, if mindful, we can participate in what God is doing and where God is leading.

by the renewing of your minds” so that we have “the attitude that was in Christ Jesus” can be wrenching, exhilarating, and life-changing in ways we cannot expect (Rom 12:2; Phil 2:5). It is always, always, the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Make no mistake: mindfulness practice will disrupt your life, changing you from the inside out. “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God. . . . You’ll be changed from the inside out” (Rom 12:1-2 The Message). Being “transformed

metanoia to the recognition that the reign of God is right here, right now when he says, “Metanoeo [Turn!]: Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” (Matt 4:17). Christian mindfulness of the present reign of God necessarily entails this change of heart and life. We might even call mindfulness a converting practice because it shakes us free from captivity

Christian mindfulness appears deceptively simple, yet is life and world changing. The New Testament word for this kind of intentional, disruptive change is metanoia, a waking up and turning from the mindless path we have been stumbling on to the mindful path of abundant life in Christ. Jesus himself ties

Christian mindfulness also makes a difference for the world in routine, daily life. These differences may seem small and insignificant, yet Jesus often describes the kingdom of God through small things like a mustard seed and yeast (Matt 13). The marks of Christian mindfulness (being free, real, rooted, grateful, and openhearted) are enacted

We must be mindful to remember Who is redeeming the world when we are tempted to believe it is we ourselves.

Gospel mindfulness turns our lives toward love, justice, and mercy. If mindfulness is not leading us to act in the world with greater clarity toward God’s shalom, we must reexamine our practice and its foundations.