With our brokenness, pain, problems, anxiety, stress, challenges and weakness, how do we live well, with more joy and peace than our situation may warrant?
I believe it’s by living thoughtfully, prayerfully and slowly, in increments at a time. Rather than rushing from activity to activity without pausing to catch our breath.
Because our lives are lived in tiny moments, one after another. Each moment offers us an opportunity to be alert and aware, present and open to the sacred in our midst. Together they form the backbone of our days and shape the way we live.
We can learn to rest our souls in God’s presence, while going about our ordinary daily tasks, rather like Brother Lawrence, who knew what it was like to live with chronic pain and rise above it.
And as we do, we receive God’s grace and power, and we learn to be more fully present in each moment. Think of it like continual prayer, an ongoing dialogue with God, if possible, whereby we automatically pause and look to Him before beginning each new task.
It’s also good to thank God whenever we think of it. Because research has shown that exercising gratitude helps fuel our joy and ability to stay positive. Sounds too hard? It is difficult at first. Like all new habits or spiritual practices, soul mindfulness takes a while to feel natural to us.
Finding it hard to pray? How about using some simple breath prayers like a slowly whispered “YHWH” (Yahweh) drawing out each syllable as you breathe in and out? Prayers don’t have to be said in a special place or way to be effective. You can pray right where you are, silently or otherwise.
Or maybe a brief “Help me, Jesus. Fill me with your Peace. Show me your way.” as suggested by Sarah Young in ‘Jesus Today: Embracing Hope Through His Presence’ will help focus your thoughts. These small prayers can be powerful reminders of God’s constant care.
I’m still a beginner in the art of soul mindfulness, but it does become easier the more we practice it. If nothing else, I think it helps us become more God-focused as we go about our days, and enhances our ability to hear from Him.
We can discover a greater peace and a strengthening that sustains us. It fuels our faith and gives us the incentive, drive and commitment to endure and persevere. We become bolstered by an eternal hope that is made available to us in the here and now.
However, trying to live a God-centred life solely by our own efforts is futile. But to live a yielded, surrendered life is possible if we take it one small step, one small moment after another. And as we give Holy Spirit our receptive hearts and ask Him to guide our thoughts.
When we slow enough to listen more attentively to His voice, God enables us to exhale our stress and relax. He also points out the necessary heart work our souls require to live more fully and freely in every way.
Soul freedom comes with greater dependence on God. It sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? But that’s how God has designed us to live, love and thrive best in this world, because He knows we need His wisdom and peace. I think that’s worth slowing down for, don’t you? 🙂
Words of Joy 
Much needed today, dear Joy… Thank you 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for letting me know this post has spoken to you, Michael. I admire the way you try to prioritise periods of slowing down, Sabbath rest and breaks despite your busy schedule. Bless you, Brother. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadly I have not been doing that very well of late… thank you for your blessing 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Michael, I think we all have times and seasons when keeping to a healthy routine for our souls is difficult or impossible to do. But I believe there is grace for such occasions, and that God honours the intentions because He knows our inability to keep to them sometimes. Your recent posts suggest a man who is being stretched by the demands of work, calling and family commitments. Hopefully there will be days ahead when you can withdraw a bit and rest. Meanwhile, may God grant you mini moments of coming aside during your busy daily life, and longer times to come when slowing down is more achievable for you, my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Joy! You are indeed very wise. And your support means the world to me 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, my friend! Though any wisdom I might possess is entirely God-given and acquired during challenges and trials. But I do try to support and encourage others by His grace. 😉❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Joy,
These words are so meaningful to me today: “we receive God’s grace and power, and we learn to be more fully present in each moment. Think of it like continual prayer, an ongoing dialogue with God, if possible, whereby we automatically pause and look to Him before beginning each new task.” This is an ongoing life lesson for me I believe. He continues to show me that I have more to learn about pausing and looking to Him through the moments of my day. And how did I miss that Brother Lawrence dealt with chronic pain? I have read his book several times, even after my own journey into pain, but that part did not settle into my heart. I think I need to have another re-read again soon! Thank you for always stirring and inspiring my heart, dear sister. May you be blessed with such beauty in your moments today also! Love & Hugs! xoxo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Bettie, oh you and me both! How I wish I were more proficient in the art of practicing the presence of God. I think it would pay me to revisit Brother Lawrence’s book too. And I caught that snippet about him living with chronic pain when I researched online. As I read the book decades ago, when I was much healthier than I am now, I missed any references to his pain, but I expect they are there somewhere. I’m always grateful for the numerous ways in which you also stir and inspire my heart. It’s lovely to be able to do that for one another. God is currently blessing me with moments of blue sky and sunshine between the grey. It helps lift and encourage my soul that spring isn’t too far away. Love and hugs! xoxo ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Joy, I so long to be more present in each moment and to practice more of that soul mindfulness. To live that yielded, surrendered life one small step at a time. And to, like Brother Lawrence, live and walk with our Father at my side (as I read in the description of his book). I often use the breath prayers – “Help me, Jesus!” And I try to remember also to breathe, “Thank You, Jesus!” To be mindful of my desperate, indispensable need of Him and His grace, but also to be grateful for every step He gives me the strength or courage to take. Thank you, my friend, for this encouragement to each moment “be alert and aware, present and open to the sacred in our midst.” Love and blessings to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Trudy, I’m actually glad that practicing the presence of God is achievable one small step at a time because it gives us hope we’re not expected to master it all at once. This kind of mindfulness can go hand in hand with exercising gratitude as well. One practice feeds on the other, I think. Some days our fears and desperate needs loom so large we lack the vision for anything else, and prayer is reduced to the arrow kind of plea we shoot in God’s direction with urgency. Yet on less difficult days or moments we can become more aware of His constant loving presence, goodness and grace. May God honour the intentions of our hearts and help us to be more spiritually attuned and alert! Love and blessings to you too! xo ❤️💜
LikeLiked by 1 person