Counsel #7 — Cautions

Picture: Counsel #7 — CautionsCI 56.1

As with any practice or pursuit, mindfulness can be misused, leading to potential pitfalls. While mindfulness promotes self-awareness and finding peace under stress, it's crucial to maintain a God-centered perspective. Mindfulness should not become a means of self-absorption or an alternative to seeking God's guidance and presence.CI 56.2

From a Christian perspective, the past, present, and future are all important and interconnected by God’s overarching plan to redeem humanity. The past is where God's redemptive work took place on the cross, the present is where we live out our faith, and the future is the culmination of God’s promises in His second coming. Be careful that mindfulness, with its emphasis on the present moment, doesn’t lead to a neglect of these two other dimensions of time.CI 56.3

In upcoming counsels, we’ll discuss other cautions for Christians to be aware of when engaging in mindful practices.CI 56.4

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalms 32:8 NIJVCI 56.5

“When questions arise upon which we are uncertain, let us ask, What saith the Scripture?…Let those who wish for something new seek for that newness of life resulting from the new birth.” Ellen White in Gospel Workers, p. 314CI 56.6

Reflect: What methods do you use to determine if an idea or teaching is biblical truth or error?^{[56]https://revivalandreformation.org/devotional-es/recibir%C3%A9is-poder/able-to-discern-truth-from-error-april-27}CI 56.7