Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him. [King James translation]
Summary:
Psalm 8 is the 8th psalm or song (e.g., hymn) in the book of Psalms. Many translations have a Psalm 8 heading. The heading in the King James translations states: “To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.” [Many believe that the Gittith was a musical string instrument.]
Most scholars believe Psalms 8 was one of the songs of King David. King David was the second King of Israel. King David was chosen by GOD and anointed by the prophet Samuel. (1Sam 16:12) David was a musician. (1 Sam 16:23). David was a warrior. (1 Samuel 17:50) David was a good friend. (2 Samuel 9:1) David was many other things---a refugee during the reign of Saul (1 Samuel 27: 1); an adulterer (2 Samuel 11:4), a schemer (2Samuel 11:15); a father who suffered the tragic loss of two children (2 Samuel 18 and 2 Samuel 17: 33) and later a repentant sinner (2 Samuel 12:13).
Throughout all his ups and downs, David knew that GOD was “mindful” of him. GOD was ALWAYS there, protecting him or sending him messages through the prophets. Even when David strayed, GOD was still there. GOD was faithful, even when David was not. When David looked back over his life—as a boy shepherd, a military leader, a father, a king and as he aged, David knew GOD was ALWAYS there.
Today scientist estimate that there are at least 8.7 million species—that is at least 8.7 million forms of life on the planet earth. There are all the various species in the animal kingdom, about a third of 8.7 million forms of life are various insect life forms. When you add the heavens—the sky, the seas, the wind, the rain, space, microorganisms and the many other things that make up the universe---when you consider all of the various things that exist, like David, one might ask in amazement, what is human kind that GOD is mindful of us---that HE is mindful of me and you!
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is “in” these days. Some describe mindfulness as “a present moment awareness,” or “a state of active, open attention on the present.” Some describe it as “living in the moment” or “the gentile effort to be continuously present.” Some my describe it as “paying attention in a particular way” or “paying attention on purpose.”
A mindfulness exercise can be as simple as focusing on your breathing, as you slowly inhale in or out.
One can also exercise mindfulness in the simple act of eating food. A person can be mindful of the food placed before them in a number of ways. For example, a person can be mindful of the color of the food, the textured of the food or the taste of the food. A person can exercise mindful in the way they chew food, noticing each bite, or slowing exercising the swallowing of the food or being mindful of the food as it travels down the throat into the digestive tract.
Being mindful, may involve listening to the sounds that various foods make. It may involve listening to the sound of crunching a carrot, or biting into an apple or feeling the smoothness of eating a banana verses eating lettuce. Mindfulness may involve smelling the various aromas of tea or watching honey blends into tea.
In “How to Practice Mindful Eating,” Gina Shaw suggests that mindful eating involves slowing down and being aware of what you are doing. She suggests asking the following questions:
- Why do I want to eat now?
- What do I want to eat?
- How much am I enjoying this food right now?
- How full am I?
- Why did I eat that (or that much)?
For example, with regard to question 4, Shaw states that it takes 20 minutes for the brain to get a message from the stomach regarding fullness. Shaw states that people who eat fast or who are in a hurry when they eat may “miss the message” and keep eating even though they are full.
Shaw also notes that our taste buds “tire easily.” She notes that depending upon how hungry you are, usually within three or four bites, the taste and how much you are enjoying the food will begin to change. She suggests eating a few raisins, one by one. If you ask yourself how much you are enjoying each one, as you eat each one, and pay attention to all the eating of the raisins one by one, usually around the forth raisin, you may not want another.
By contrast, if you are in the habit of plopping yourself in front of a TV night after night with a bowl of ice cream or a bag of some snack, if you focus your attention what is on TV, you may find yourself finishing off a “quart” or a “full bag” or “everything,” without realizing that you have done so, because of lack of mindfulness. Mindfulness can be the difference between noticing what you eat and eating less and just eating just to be eating.
Shaw also notes that part of mindful eating is learning from your mistakes. She suggests that if you “go crazy eating ice cream” or stuff yourself, “don’t spend the next hour beating yourself up.” Just pay attention and take that new knowledge with you the next time you eat a snack in front of the TV.
See, “How to Practice Mindful Eating,” by Gina Shaw reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD, May 17, 2013, www.webmd.com.
BE MINDFUL OF GOD
So often we can be more mindful about food than GOD. However, Wednesdays (or Sundays or any day) is a day we can be especially mindful of GOD.
Just as we might ask questions about the food we eat, perhaps we can put together a set of questions as we read the WORD of GOD: For example, you might ask:
- What does GOD want me to learn from this scripture?
- What area of my life is this scripture addressing?
- Does this scripture make me appreciate WHO GOD IS?
- Does this scripture suggest ways that I should change how I interact with others?
- How does this scripture make me a better steward in mind, body, and spirit and over the resources that GOD has provided me?
Alternatively, you may want to create your own list of mindful questions for reading scripture. Or, ask your pastor or a church leader for help or direction.
As you ask a mindful list question, take time to pray for insight or thank GOD for being with you as you meditate on HIS WORD. “Eat” the WORD,” taste” the WORD, read the scripture aloud, listen and pray. Then, pray and listen. Don’t just “absentmindedly” recite the WORD of GOD, be mindful about GOD’s WORD.
So eat, chew, pray and be mindful.
Be ever mindful that GOD is mindful of you and me and BE BLESSED!
