Seeking

Spiritual Exercise: Mindfulness (wk. 6/13)

Reading: Matthew 6:25-34

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

In both the gym and in life, it’s possible to chase the right things with the wrong mindset. You can show up, do the work, even make progress — but if your mind is clouded by comparison, fear, or frustration, the experience changes. You might be lifting for approval instead of health. You might be training to keep up rather than grow. You’re doing the right things, but for the wrong reasons.

That’s exactly what Jesus is addressing in Matthew 6. His audience is focused on real, legitimate needs — food, clothing, drink. These aren’t sinful desires. They’re survival-level necessities. But Jesus challenges the way they’re seeking. He names the core issue: worry. Their focus is driven by fear. And when fear drives the seeking, the soul stays restless.

That’s where mindfulness comes in. We define mindfulness as the intentional practice of being fully present with God. It’s a spiritual exercise that shifts our attention away from anxiety and back toward the One who holds everything together. Jesus doesn’t say stop seeking altogether — He says seek first His kingdom. Realign your focus. Redirect your pursuit. Let your mind and heart aim toward Him, not just the outcomes.

So how do we shift our attention to God? It starts with presence. Mindfulness isn’t zoning out. It’s tuning in. It’s pausing the scroll, silencing the noise, and noticing where your thoughts are going. It’s acknowledging the worry, the need, the drive — and then handing it over. It’s choosing to say, “God, I trust You with this, and I want to see this moment through Your eyes.”

In the same way an athlete focuses on breath, form, and rhythm, we train our minds to focus on God — His Word, His presence, His peace. That’s how we move from frantic seeking to focused seeking. That’s how we pursue the right things with the right mindset.

Jesus isn’t condemning the need. He’s inviting us into a new kind of focus — one that leads to peace, not pressure. So, take a breath. Shift your attention. Fix your eyes on Him. Let mindfulness lead you back to what matters most. Because when your focus is on God, seeking becomes something deeper — something stronger. It becomes seeking with the mindset of the kingdom.

Questions for Reflection:

When do you find yourself seeking the right things with the wrong mindset?

How does a kingdom mindset change our perspective and focus?