Are you trying to beat the winter blues? I took the opportunity to be more mindful today, and it brought me God’s peace despite my winter blues.
Prefer to listen? Here’s the podcast episode:
How to Be Mindful to Beat Winter Blues
My mindful moment was inspired by a passage in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, when the author paid attention to washing his hands in a fast-food restaurant bathroom. His ordinary act led to a moment of praise to God.
This morning I was battling the winter blues, and I needed a tangible way to lift my spirits. After running a few errands, I headed to my local home improvement center’s plant nursery for a few moments of mindfulness. It truly paid off!
Though this store has only a few racks of plants, I pretended I was stepping into a garden, much like the beautiful Climatron at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. The air outside was a chilly 26 degrees Fahrenheit, but this section of Lowe’s was warm and cozy.
As I looked over the brightly colored bromeliads, leafy ferns, prickly cacti, and delicate orchids, I praised God for his beautiful handiwork. A few birds had become trapped inside, and I enjoyed the quiet rush of their flight and their gentle twitter. The sights and sounds soothed me and filled me with joy.
Meditating on God’s Word to Beat Winter Blues
On my drive home, I thanked God for that moment of peace. He helped me choose hope instead of gloom. God showed me that even in a small space of an ordinary retail store, I can find traces of his glory. He taught me that I can hope for spring this year, but also hope in the eternal spring to come:
Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
Isaiah 35:1-3 NLT
Mindful Moments With God
When you choose a mindful moment with God, you experience fresh peace, joy and hope. If you need God’s presence today, I encourage you to slow down and enjoy a mindful moment. You don’t have to include nature in it like I did, but that certainly helps. You can have a mindful, worship-filled moment while you eat your next meal, wash dishes, or take a bath. Ordinary moments are full of God’s presence.
Use your mindful moment to consider how God is displaying his glory now in your ordinary life, and how he will display his full glory when Jesus returns. May it strengthen and encourage you, lifting up your spirit.
Here’s a prayer to encourage you:
Heavenly Father,
Your glory is in every moment, and I don’t want to miss it.
I confess to you that I am often too busy to notice.
Help me take a mindful moment today to focus all my senses on you, Lord.
Use an ordinary part of your creation to inspire my praise.
Thank you for simple moments of mindfulness that encourage and strengthen my faith.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Free Printable!
Want a FREE printable to help lift your winter blues? Here it is for you! It has 7 scriptures perfect for overcoming winter blues. Mindfully meditate on these scriptures, and God will give you peace, joy, hope and encouragement through them.
7 Scriptures to Help You Beat Winter Blues
When you choose a mindful moment with God, you experience fresh peace, joy and hope to help you overcome winter blues. #winterblues #seasonalaffectivedisorder #christianliving Click To Tweet
Important note: This post is intended for people with mild to moderate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. It is not intended to replace professional advice from a doctor or counselor. I have benefited from five years of Christian counseling for my depression symptoms, which I highly recommend to anyone who is depressed. Please talk to your doctor or a qualified counselor if you are seeking professional advice for your depression symptoms.
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