Bible.com.au: Reading Plan - Christ-Centred Mindfulness: Still and Breathe

Reflection*

This Christ-centred mindfulness exercise helps you connect to God’s grace.

After reading the Bible passage for today, close your eyes. Try to bring to mind something you have done or that you have failed to do, where you have felt shame, guilt, regret, anger, or sadness. Remember back to the time when this occurred.

Notice the thoughts that come into your mind, the physical sensations in your body and any feelings you might have. Do not try to block these thoughts, feelings or urges. Let them be there. Similarly, do not try to engage with, debate or judge them. Just observe. Try to name these emotions as they arise.

Take a few deep breaths and imagine that you are making space for these difficult thoughts and feelings as you breathe in and out.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will not always accuse,

Nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

Nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion for his children,

So the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.”

Psalm 103:8-13.

A short contemplative exercise and time for prayer

If you need to, ask God to forgive you for your mistake or bad choice. Ask for grace so that you do not repeat it.

Imagine that Christ is sitting with you and that he is extending his love to you. Imagine that he is placing a comforting hand on you and that, as he does this, his kindness, grace and forgiveness flow into you. God is compassionate, gracious and forgiving. Take a moment to accept the gift of grace that is freely given and thank God for it.

*In this series, each day’s devotion will be structured a little differently than our usual Daily Bible devotions, as Dr Thompson offers a Bible passage for reflection, and teaches us practical contemplative exercises that can assist with finding peace when everything around us seems difficult and hopeless.

Psalms 103:1-22

Psalm 103

Of David.

1Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

7He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

8The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

9He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

16the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

19The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

21Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

22Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Christ-Centred Mindfulness: Still and Breathe

Day 4 of 14

NIV

Psalms 103:8

Days

Psalms 103:1-22