Yesterday I completed a eight week program on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) that was paid for by my employer. We have been meeting for 2 hours once a week to practice several types of meditation, yoga, lectures, and group discussion. The material presented is based on the work done by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. MBSR is about paying attention to your body. It is about being able to recognize events (R), allow or acknowledge them (A), investigate their impact (I), an non-identify (N). RAIN allows accepting the situation for what it is and to just let it be without engaging in the process of worry.

Some have asked me how MBSR relates to my Christian beliefs. The following are several verses from the Bible that include “meditation”:

Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening…
~ Genesis 24:36 ~

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
~ Joshua 1:8 ~

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditate day and night.
~ Psalm 1:2 ~

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
~ Psalm 4:4 ~

I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
~ Psalm 119:15 ~

Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
~ Psalm 119:27 ~

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.
~ Psalm 145:5 ~

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
~ Philippians 4:6-9 ~

So as you can see, meditation is a principle that is practiced in the Bible.