MOMENT BY MOMENT — WHY IT MATTERS

Moment by Moment sprang from a deep need for mindfulness in my own life. Since childhood I’ve struggled with OCD and anxiety. In my younger years, these qualities precipitated academic excellence. I was a diligent learner — sensitive, creative, organized and studious.

About Moment by Moment - helping children deal with anxiety at school - girl stressed while studying - Shutterstock

Sleep didn’t come easily, and with all that creativity pumping, I lay awake building characters, writing dialogues, and crafting stories in my head.

The “real world” was challenging for me. When circumstances fell out of order, I struggled to cope. Gripped by uncertainty and paralyzed by overwhelm, my world came crashing down. Anxiety and obsessiveness took over.

Back then there was little information available regarding children and anxiety disorders. I am happy to say that in the past few years I’ve been greatly helped by practicing these simple spiritual disciplines:

 

ETERNITY IN YOUR HEART

But before I go any further, there’s a baseline – a common thread that draws these physical and mental exercises together. In order to rest, to truly let go, your creative mind needs to focus on the present moment. This heightened awareness of the world around you, and the pricelessness of each moment, naturally brings you to contemplate the Divine.

God has set eternity in the human heart (Eccl. 3:11). You know there’s more. Mental clutter and endless distractions mask the essence of life itself.  In the stillness and quiet of the present, mental fog clears and self-awareness awakens.

 

THE GOAL

I’ve learned that my life is not about me, or even those around me. It’s about the one who created all of us and all of this. It’s Jesus, God with us, who brings context and meaning.

You can craft meaning and context for yourself, but it will always lack the certainty of truth.  A god created in your own image will never be a god worth worshiping. You must come to God on His terms, not  yours. Jesus says:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. — John 14:16

The spiritual disciplines I’ve suggested offer physiological benefits, but without communion with God as the goal, there’s a great something lacking. Quiet moments of reflection, when you ponder eternity in your heart – these are where God is waiting to meet with you. He declares:

Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. — Psalm 46:10

  

WHO OR WHAT DO YOU EXALT?

God alone, who loves you most, is worthy. Being fully aware, in the present moment, is not an end but a means.

God is waiting to meet with you right now. You can be freed from the guilt of the past and surrender your fears for the future … only if you know the one whose death forgave your past, and whose love holds your future. His name is Jesus.

It’s in this context that mindfulness, meditation, journaling and yoga become more than tools for healing. They become acts of worship.

 

SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS — MOMENT BY MOMENT

I’m excited to share these amazing resources with you!

It’s my hope that through these practices you’ll experience the benefits of emotional, mental, and physical health, as well as spiritual wholeness.

Contrary to what New Age gurus purport, complete healing comes from within only when God dwells within. God dwells within only when you humbly invite Him.

 

MAKE SPACE FOR HIM

Surrender your life now – outcomes and dreams, sins and sorrows. Stop trying to be your own god. Instead, yield to Jesus – the one who is worthy, the one who loves you most.

It’s for this you were created.

 

MOMENT BY MOMENT — RESOURCES FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Ready to dig deeper? Then, I highly recommend visiting the Book List page. Here you’ll find a collection of carefully selected resources, all aimed at promoting your spiritual health and well-being.

Cover of the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun

Looking for the most comprehensive guide available? The one book I’ve found that covers Christian mindfulness extensively is:

The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun (click the highlighted link to purchase).

This is my absolute favorite resource. Vast in scope yet simple to use, the sections are short and rich with practical application. There’s a mini chapter for whatever your needs are today.

Blessings to you,

Ali 🙂

Ali author of Moment by Moment - in a corn field