Christian Mindfulness Resources
Mindfulness is an indispensable skill to have in our modern, busy lives. With mindfulness we learn to slow down, pay attention, and live on purpose. From a Christian perspective, mindfulness helps us to connect with God in our daily lives and to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2). If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness and how to apply it as a Christian, here you’ll find the best Christian mindfulness resources.
After studying and practicing mindfulness for the last 5 years, I’ve found these books, courses, and websites to be the most helpful resources for Christians to learn about mindfulness. I highly recommend them to support you on your journey of putting mindfulness into practice in your life. I hope you find these Christian mindfulness resources as valuable as I have!
Contents
- Christian Books About Mindfulness
- Scientific Books About Mindfulness
- Free Online Courses About Mindfulness
- Free Guided Christian Meditations
- Other Mindfulness Websites & Blogs
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Christian Books About Mindfulness
Secular mindfulness encourages a simple awareness of the present moment. As Christians we know that God is present with us and is at work in the intricate details of our lives. So our faith in Christ can add depth and richness to our use of mindfulness.
Christian mindfulness is simply living in the present moment, but with an additional awareness of God’s active presence and involvement in our present experiences. I recommend starting with these books for a Christian perspective on mindfulness.
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
You may have heard of this book before, but never knew it was about mindfulness! The essence of mindfulness is being present. Knowing that God is always with us, Christian mindfulness is simply being aware of His presence in everyday life, and being present with Him.
The Practice of the Presence of God is a collection of letters and conversations with a 17th-century French monk named Brother Lawrence. It’s all about how to become aware of God’s presence in our daily lives. Brother Lawrence could feel God’s love and presence with him no matter what he was doing, and he encourages us to do the same.
The Mindful Christian by Irene Kraegel
In The Mindful Christian, clinical psychologist Irene Kraegel offers a clear, relatable picture of mindfulness for a Christian audience. The book explains the several ways in which mindfulness and our Christian faith both inform and enrich each other. It focuses on mindfulness as a way to become more kind and gentle to ourselves, and open and curious about our experiences. Dr. Kraegel also writes with a gentle and open tone as she invites us to experience God’s presence in every moment.
Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality by Tim Stead
In this book, Tim Stead, an Anglican priest and mindfulness teacher in the UK, explains how mindfulness can benefit Christian spiritual growth. The author is careful to point out that mindfulness is not spirituality; however, mindfulness offers ways to support our Christian spirituality. With touches of humor as well as insight, the book draws clear connections between aspects of the Christian life and how mindfulness can help them flourish.
I recommend this book for those who already have a basic understanding of mindfulness and want to dive deeper into how to use it as a Christian. This is because it has a very thoughtful and philosophical tone, so it could be difficult to actually learn the basics of mindfulness from this book.
More Recommended Christian Mindfulness Books
Free Printable: 7 Christian Mindfulness Exercises
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Use these 7 mindfulness techniques to connect with God in your daily life. Print out this reference page and put it on your fridge, in your office, or wherever you need a reminder to be mindfully aware of God’s presence throughout the day. |
Scientific Books About Mindfulness
Christian academics throw around the phrase, “All truth is God’s truth.” In other words, God is the Creator and Author of all that is true. So if scientific evidence is pointing towards something, it means that researchers are simply uncovering more of the intricacies of God’s creation.
I believe that the research into mindfulness shows us that mindfulness is how God designed our brains to work. So start with these books to find out what psychology says about mindfulness and how to put it into practice.
This practical, 8-week workbook is perfect for anyone who wants to reduce stress and calm their busy minds, as well as anyone struggling with anxiety or depression. It’s based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. The workbook trains you to use basic mindfulness meditations to cultivate awareness, compassion, and gratitude. It will also help you put a stop to negative thought patterns. The book starts with a few chapters explaining the principles of mindfulness, then launches into the 8-week plan.
Mindfulness by Ellen J. Langer
This book is about Dr. Langer’s research at Harvard about the cognitive and psychological side of mindfulness. It was published in 1989, before the term mindfulness ever became mainstream. The book delves into skills such as being aware of our own thoughts, perceiving things as they are, and being able to notice and question our own ideas and preconceptions. It’s a very engaging and practical book, encouraging us to be mindful about how we live, rather than mindless.
Mindfulness for Life by Dr. Stephen McKenzie and Dr. Craig Hassed
Written by a psychological researcher and a mindfulness expert, this interesting book focuses on the proven benefits of mindfulness. It starts with a few chapters about how to practice mindfulness. Then, it describes several ways that mindfulness can improve your life physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you’re curious what the research has shown about why you should practice mindfulness, this is the book for you.
Research-Based Mindfulness Workbooks
Are you looking for something with more practical guidance that’s more specific to your situation? One of these highly-rated step-by-step workbooks could be just what you need:
Free Online Courses About Mindfulness
Here are some great free online courses (MOOCs) about mindfulness, psychology, and mental health.
Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance from Monash University on FutureLearn:
This was the first course I took on mindfulness, and it is without a doubt the best free mindfulness course out there. I often refer back to its clear explanations of the psychology and practice of mindfulness. In fact, it’s even one of Class Central‘s highest-rated MOOCs of all time. I highly recommend it as a starting point for learning how to apply research-based mindfulness practices in your life.
Maintaining a Mindful Life from Monash University on FutureLearn:
This is a follow-up to the previous course, and equally as helpful and valuable. It digs deeper into topics like mindful relationships, communication, self-compassion, and emotional health. I recommend starting with the first one for mindfulness basics, though!
De-Mystifying Mindfulness from Leiden University on Coursera:
This course is a good introduction to the role of mindfulness in contemporary society. It focuses on areas like the psychology, philosophy, and politics of mindfulness. Another highly-rated course, it will challenge your preconceptions and offer ways to practice mindfulness in your own life.
Understanding Anxiety, Depression, and CBT from University of Reading on FutureLearn:
Although this course is not specifically about mindfulness, it is very helpful for understanding mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and how the research-based therapy CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can help. CBT goes hand-in-hand with mindfulness to help us notice our thoughts and feelings, and change unrealistic thought patterns.
Free Guided Christian Meditations
Meditation is one way to practice mindfulness, like a workout for the mind. For Christians, it’s a good idea to use guided meditations that direct our gaze towards God rather than into ourselves. For more on this topic, check out my article on the top 5 free apps for Christian mindfulness meditation.
Try using the 5 free apps listed in that article for some great guided meditations to get started. Additionally, here are some websites and YouTube channels where you can find free guided Christian meditations.
- Christian Meditation Podcast YouTube Channel
- Take A Moment Scripture Meditations & Mindfulness YouTube Channel
- Be Still Biblical Meditations YouTube Channel
- The Mindful Christian YouTube Channel
- Abide Christian Meditation YouTube Channel
- Holistic Faith Lifestyle – Blog and YouTube Channel
- Free Meditations from ChristianMindfulness.co.uk
Are you looking for more in-depth, step-by-step guidance to learn how to meditate as a Christian? Enter His Rest: 30-Day Guided Scripture Meditation Devotional includes a detailed guide to Christian meditation for beginners, 30 days of guided meditations on Bible passages, and journaling space on every page for writing your reflections and prayers. Get a free 3-day sample here:
Free Sample: 3 Guided Christian Meditations
Do you want to renew your mind with God’s Word? With Enter His Rest, a 30-day Scripture meditation devotional, you’ll learn step-by-step how to meditate as a Christian, and transform your thoughts with biblical truth about the true rest we find in Jesus.
Be still and rest in God’s presence with these 3 guided Christian meditations. You’ll also get a discount code for the full devotional.
Other Mindfulness Websites & Blogs
Here are some other sites and blogs about Christian mindfulness.
- ChristianMindfulness.co.uk – A website with online courses and meditations about Christian mindfulness, by Richard Johnston.
- TheMindfulChristian.com – Website of Irene Kraegel, author of The Mindful Christian, with resources and articles about Christian mindfulness.
- ShaunLambert.co.uk – Blog of Shaun Lambert, an author and minister researching mindfulness and faith.
- Mindful.org – An online magazine with the latest research and applications of mindfulness, plus free guided meditations.
- MindfulOfChrist.net – Christian mental health blog of Lauren Roskilly, author of the book, Christian-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy & How to Become Mindful of Christ
Join the Community
Do you want a community where you can learn, be encouraged, and ask questions about Christian mindfulness? My private Facebook group, Mindful Christian Living, is a space for exactly that purpose. Request to join the group here (please answer the membership questions).
Also, join more than 2000 others on the journey of believing in grace and living with calm: Subscribe to the Calming Grace newsletter for encouragement, devotionals, and tips about Christian mindfulness and God’s grace.
Thank you for visiting this page of Christian mindfulness resources! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources here. If you know of another great resource I should add to this page, please let me know through the Contact form.
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