What do you think?
Rate this book
Holy Noticing: The Bible, Your Brain, and the Mindful Space Between Moments
Does your life ever feel like one series of rushed moments after another?
Do you want to feel more present and connected to those you love? Do you want to be able to listen without thinking the whole time of what you’re going to say next? Do you want to feel less distracted, less busy, and more whole? Most of us spend our distracted lives longing to get to the next, better moment and fail to notice the present one. We lack space between one task and the next, one thought and the next, one email and the next. Social media, TV, work deadlines, and family stress steal our enjoyment and engagement in the moment.
Holy Noticing will teach you how
become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and environmentrecognize Christ’s presence in the momentreduce your stress by developing the ability to focus on God and people rather than tasks Many today think mindfulness is dangerous, unchristian, or associated with Eastern religions—and often it is! But Dr. Charles Stone reveals that the art of holy noticing—purposefully paying attention to God as he works in us, our relationships, and our world—is a spiritual discipline Christians have practiced for millennia. Holy Noticing explores the historically Christian and biblical roots of this lifestyle, as well as Dr. Stone’s BREATHe model, which teaches you to be more engaged with Christ in the everyday moments that too often slip right by us.
Discover the lost spiritual discipline of holy noticing today and learn to engage the world like Christ.
Do you want to feel more present and connected to those you love? Do you want to be able to listen without thinking the whole time of what you’re going to say next? Do you want to feel less distracted, less busy, and more whole? Most of us spend our distracted lives longing to get to the next, better moment and fail to notice the present one. We lack space between one task and the next, one thought and the next, one email and the next. Social media, TV, work deadlines, and family stress steal our enjoyment and engagement in the moment.
Holy Noticing will teach you how
become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and environmentrecognize Christ’s presence in the momentreduce your stress by developing the ability to focus on God and people rather than tasks Many today think mindfulness is dangerous, unchristian, or associated with Eastern religions—and often it is! But Dr. Charles Stone reveals that the art of holy noticing—purposefully paying attention to God as he works in us, our relationships, and our world—is a spiritual discipline Christians have practiced for millennia. Holy Noticing explores the historically Christian and biblical roots of this lifestyle, as well as Dr. Stone’s BREATHe model, which teaches you to be more engaged with Christ in the everyday moments that too often slip right by us.
Discover the lost spiritual discipline of holy noticing today and learn to engage the world like Christ.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2019
152 people are currently reading
1169 people want to read
About the author
Charles Stone
26 books12 followersI've been a pastor for 40 years in both the U.S. and Canada, and have authored six books and blogs at www.charlesstone.com. A lifelong learner, I have earned four degrees and pursued postgraduate study
in the intersection of Biblical truth with neuroscience insight. I've been married to the love of my life, Sherryl, for 39 years and have three grown children and three grandchildren.
in the intersection of Biblical truth with neuroscience insight. I've been married to the love of my life, Sherryl, for 39 years and have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 23, 2022
The practice of holy noticing or “practicing mindfulness with a focus on scripture has radically changed my devotionally life. I love how the author combines the science of how God created our minds with our spiritual connection with him and then combines the knowledge we have for these two things to create practices that deepen our relationship with God and fend off mental attacks such as anxiety and the temptation to withdraw mentally from life. In the past I’ve seen science and religion pitted against each other, and I’m excited to a see a movement of literature that shows how God has intended them to go hand in hand.
May 29, 2019
This book takes the recently popular concept of mindfulness and translates it for the thoughtful Christian. Mindfulness is an ancient Christian spiritual discipline, not just a pagan one. This book gives the Christian history of mindfulness, which the author calls "holy noticing" and also the current scientific research. Mindfulness practices (holy noticing) can rewire our brains in a positive direction and help Christians become more like Christ.
I enjoyed both the science, history and Biblical insights in this book. My concern is that the practice the author suggests is a bit too complicated There are seven components he suggests that readers focus on. As I read each chapter, I could see how each component is useful, but trying to implement all of them would be overwhelming to the average person.
This book would be most useful for pastors, spiritual advisors, and Christian counselors as they work with individuals.
I received a complementary advanced copy of this book from the publisher on NetGally.
I enjoyed both the science, history and Biblical insights in this book. My concern is that the practice the author suggests is a bit too complicated There are seven components he suggests that readers focus on. As I read each chapter, I could see how each component is useful, but trying to implement all of them would be overwhelming to the average person.
This book would be most useful for pastors, spiritual advisors, and Christian counselors as they work with individuals.
I received a complementary advanced copy of this book from the publisher on NetGally.
March 11, 2019
Mindfulness is a popular practice today. Stone reminds us that the practice, holy noticing, is a spiritual discipline Christians have used for centuries. It is a way to be more aware of God and what He is doing in us, others, and the world. It is also good for our physical, emotional and spiritual health. And Stone has the research results to convince us.
He offers the specific practice of holy noticing around the acronym BREATHe.
B: Ponder and Yield Your Body
R: Review and Renew your Relationships
E: Notice and Engage your Environment
A: Label and Release Your Afflictive Emotions (Affect)
T: Be Conscious of Current Thoughts
H: Pay Attention to your Spiritual Life (Heart) and the Spirit's whispers
e: engage the world like Christ
I can tell that Stone has a scientific background. He is the first person who has explained what deep breathing does in the brain. Understanding the why of it has helped me be more committed to the doing of it. He is also very precise in his holy noticing instructions. He gives specific directions for each of the BREATHe exercises. He provides anchor Scripture passages, specific steps to take, and additional resources available at the book's website.
My favorite aspect of the book was the breathing exercise using the Jesus Prayer or something similar. I know we are to be aware of God's presence always. Yet our minds wander so easily, loosing focus in just seconds. Doing the breathing exercise with the short prayer is a great way to get focused back on God's presence.
The benefits of the kind of practice Stone outlines in this book are great. If you have been intrigued by the idea of mindfulness and wonder how the practice can be a spiritual discipline, this book is for you. If you are already convinced of the benefits of the spiritual discipline but needed specific instruction to do it, you will find it here. If you want to keep God's purposes and perspectives in mind, this book will help you in your effort.
The ultimate reason we would want to practice the spiritual discipline of holy noticing is as Stone emphasizes – to become more Christlike.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
He offers the specific practice of holy noticing around the acronym BREATHe.
B: Ponder and Yield Your Body
R: Review and Renew your Relationships
E: Notice and Engage your Environment
A: Label and Release Your Afflictive Emotions (Affect)
T: Be Conscious of Current Thoughts
H: Pay Attention to your Spiritual Life (Heart) and the Spirit's whispers
e: engage the world like Christ
I can tell that Stone has a scientific background. He is the first person who has explained what deep breathing does in the brain. Understanding the why of it has helped me be more committed to the doing of it. He is also very precise in his holy noticing instructions. He gives specific directions for each of the BREATHe exercises. He provides anchor Scripture passages, specific steps to take, and additional resources available at the book's website.
My favorite aspect of the book was the breathing exercise using the Jesus Prayer or something similar. I know we are to be aware of God's presence always. Yet our minds wander so easily, loosing focus in just seconds. Doing the breathing exercise with the short prayer is a great way to get focused back on God's presence.
The benefits of the kind of practice Stone outlines in this book are great. If you have been intrigued by the idea of mindfulness and wonder how the practice can be a spiritual discipline, this book is for you. If you are already convinced of the benefits of the spiritual discipline but needed specific instruction to do it, you will find it here. If you want to keep God's purposes and perspectives in mind, this book will help you in your effort.
The ultimate reason we would want to practice the spiritual discipline of holy noticing is as Stone emphasizes – to become more Christlike.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
October 8, 2019
I truly enjoyed reading Holy Noticing. As someone who works daily with people trying to grow in their spiritual development and maturity, this book was particularly practical. Mindfulness is a very "hot" topic these days, but I appreciated Charles' commitment and clarity to helping us keep our minds on Christ. But, the hidden gem of this book is the sheer volume of psychological research and examples for various studies. It is one of those books that Notes section at the back of the book was just a valuable as the content of the book. This book is filled with research! Plus the book points you to a website where you can download useful tools and graphics.
March 12, 2019
Charles Stone brings about an awareness of our society not taking the time to notice things around us. To truly think about what we are seeing, hearing, and doing. He states that mindful is to "remember, be concerned," and "call to mind and meditate." Implying personal involvement in the remembering, attention, awareness. We would be more restful, have clarity of mind, be healthier, if we took to slowing down and really taking notice of our surroundings. Charles does a great job of causes the reader to think more before just moving on to the next thing in the agenda. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this book launch team. #HolyNoticing
October 15, 2023
I wish I read this book a few years ago when I wasn’t as observant about the things God is doing in, through, and around me. So although I’ve already learned a lot about what this book talks about, it’s such a healthy reminder.
January 8, 2026
This book is not what I was expecting, but I’m convinced enough to try out the practice of Holy Noticing!
March 21, 2019
When I first read about this book, I was incredulous about its purpose, but was curious to see how the author would support his claims. From what I had previously read about mindfulness, which is used in many educational settings as a way to deal with certain behaviors, I was under the impression that it was some form of an Eastern religious practice, something where one's mind is open to anything that would enter, opening one's mind to evil spirits, etc., so I was a little doubtful yet at the same time eager to read it and see what Charles Stone had to offer.
As I began reading through it, I came to understand this concept through a wholly different lens. I began to learn that it's about focusing on God, His word, and His people, that it's a discipline that as a Christian I can practice in order to focus, deliberately, on who God is, what He says about Himself, what He says about me (as His adopted child) and others in this family of faith.
Charles Stone starts by defining what Mindfulness is, what it's not, and why it is so crucial for believers to practice this discipline on a daily basis. He proceeds to show how this is an ancient practice, not a novel idea that educators have recently been latching onto.
Stone pellucidly delineates and gives examples of what he has termed the BREATHe model. Each of the letters represents one aspect of the practice. B for Body, R for Relationships, E for Environment, A for Afflictive Emotions, T for Thoughts, H for Heart, and the lower case "e" for engagement with the world. Stone expounds on each of these. The practice is holistic in that it encompasses all areas of our being: our physical bodies, our emotions, our thoughts. In addition, it is not just about OUR bodies, our emotions, and our thoughts, as if we are islands unto ourselves, but it reaches out so that we can focus on our relationships with others, we can take time to savor the world around us, and engage with others as Jesus did; showing interest, compassion, and love towards others.
Stone has provided the body of Christ with a spiritual discipline that can benefit all of us in being mindful. His examples are clear and practical. The following are some quotations that I found interesting as I was reading though the book:
"Joshua used this word [meditate] to describe an essential component in holy noticing: obedience. Holy noticing is not merely an end in itself but includes a double emphasis: stillness before God and virtuous action, being fully present in the moment, and behaving rightly in the moments of life" (54).
"A mindful life helps us stop and pay attention to both God's Word and His works as we see it in people, in creation, and in our bodies. It counters our busy lives filled with faster internet speeds, speed-reading, and skimming relationships. Much like a prism reveals truth to our hearts and 'opens us to the mind of God and his world and presence in the world.' It's a spiritual discipline rooted in both God's Word and His works" (55).
"Again, remember that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate change agent, and science only confirms how spiritual disciplines affect us" (101).
"Trying to wrestle the emotion away habituates our desire to rid ourselves from current moments filled with unpleasant emotions that we think must go away for us to experience shalom. And when we try to push away our emotions, they end up in our bodies as headaches, shoulder tension, stomachaches, and other chronic health problems. Only when we take a Spirit-guided approach by actually leaning into the emotion, rather than forcing it away, will it lose its power. We must notice and observe it, sit with it, and describe and label it to lessen our tendency to repeatedly return to it. Over time, those afflictive emotions will loosen their grip on us and we will learn that by God's grace we no longer are at their mercy" (140).
"If we don't check our thoughts, they can become our identity, because we rehearse and ruminate over them in an ongoing inner commentary. Then, networks of neurons are created in our brains around those unhealthy thought patterns. We begin to believe we are ugly, fat, unlovable, stupid, or that nobody cares for us, including God....Holy noticing...[creates] new mental pathways that are aligned to truth, rather than with lies and distortions" (150).
"When difficult or painful thoughts arise, we often try to avoid, analyze, fix, or judge them as if our thoughts were facts. Holy noticing, however, helps us first step back to simply be with the thoughts, and with the discomfort they may bring. This makes space for the Holy Spirit to do His work of healing, however He sees fit. Instead of trying to get rid of the thought or solve it, we allow it to come to the surface and submit it to the Lord" (151).
I highly recommend Holy Noticing, and am persuaded that if we practice this our lives will be more focused on what is of true and lasting value.
As I began reading through it, I came to understand this concept through a wholly different lens. I began to learn that it's about focusing on God, His word, and His people, that it's a discipline that as a Christian I can practice in order to focus, deliberately, on who God is, what He says about Himself, what He says about me (as His adopted child) and others in this family of faith.
Charles Stone starts by defining what Mindfulness is, what it's not, and why it is so crucial for believers to practice this discipline on a daily basis. He proceeds to show how this is an ancient practice, not a novel idea that educators have recently been latching onto.
Stone pellucidly delineates and gives examples of what he has termed the BREATHe model. Each of the letters represents one aspect of the practice. B for Body, R for Relationships, E for Environment, A for Afflictive Emotions, T for Thoughts, H for Heart, and the lower case "e" for engagement with the world. Stone expounds on each of these. The practice is holistic in that it encompasses all areas of our being: our physical bodies, our emotions, our thoughts. In addition, it is not just about OUR bodies, our emotions, and our thoughts, as if we are islands unto ourselves, but it reaches out so that we can focus on our relationships with others, we can take time to savor the world around us, and engage with others as Jesus did; showing interest, compassion, and love towards others.
Stone has provided the body of Christ with a spiritual discipline that can benefit all of us in being mindful. His examples are clear and practical. The following are some quotations that I found interesting as I was reading though the book:
"Joshua used this word [meditate] to describe an essential component in holy noticing: obedience. Holy noticing is not merely an end in itself but includes a double emphasis: stillness before God and virtuous action, being fully present in the moment, and behaving rightly in the moments of life" (54).
"A mindful life helps us stop and pay attention to both God's Word and His works as we see it in people, in creation, and in our bodies. It counters our busy lives filled with faster internet speeds, speed-reading, and skimming relationships. Much like a prism reveals truth to our hearts and 'opens us to the mind of God and his world and presence in the world.' It's a spiritual discipline rooted in both God's Word and His works" (55).
"Again, remember that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate change agent, and science only confirms how spiritual disciplines affect us" (101).
"Trying to wrestle the emotion away habituates our desire to rid ourselves from current moments filled with unpleasant emotions that we think must go away for us to experience shalom. And when we try to push away our emotions, they end up in our bodies as headaches, shoulder tension, stomachaches, and other chronic health problems. Only when we take a Spirit-guided approach by actually leaning into the emotion, rather than forcing it away, will it lose its power. We must notice and observe it, sit with it, and describe and label it to lessen our tendency to repeatedly return to it. Over time, those afflictive emotions will loosen their grip on us and we will learn that by God's grace we no longer are at their mercy" (140).
"If we don't check our thoughts, they can become our identity, because we rehearse and ruminate over them in an ongoing inner commentary. Then, networks of neurons are created in our brains around those unhealthy thought patterns. We begin to believe we are ugly, fat, unlovable, stupid, or that nobody cares for us, including God....Holy noticing...[creates] new mental pathways that are aligned to truth, rather than with lies and distortions" (150).
"When difficult or painful thoughts arise, we often try to avoid, analyze, fix, or judge them as if our thoughts were facts. Holy noticing, however, helps us first step back to simply be with the thoughts, and with the discomfort they may bring. This makes space for the Holy Spirit to do His work of healing, however He sees fit. Instead of trying to get rid of the thought or solve it, we allow it to come to the surface and submit it to the Lord" (151).
I highly recommend Holy Noticing, and am persuaded that if we practice this our lives will be more focused on what is of true and lasting value.
May 28, 2019
Having been searching for a mindfulness resource that incorporated a Christian perspective, but not one that was exclusively from the contemplative tradition and one that accepted that common grace could be found in mindfulness, I was glad for this book. It definitely walks a nice line between taking the good and gracious from modern mindfulness practices and leaving things which might be unhelpful.
Occasionally I was unconvinced by the book's handling of Scripture. I also found it incredibly awkward the way that the author would juxtapose theologians next to each other who were often diametrically opposed to each other on principal just because they addressed issues related to noticing the world, meditating on Scripture, and knowing God and ourselves before him. I was glad that the book and it's associated timeline included the Puritans, because I do think their ideas of self-examination and what they had to say on Scripture mediation have to bear on what this book has to say, I think their ideas were also quite different in many ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
Occasionally I was unconvinced by the book's handling of Scripture. I also found it incredibly awkward the way that the author would juxtapose theologians next to each other who were often diametrically opposed to each other on principal just because they addressed issues related to noticing the world, meditating on Scripture, and knowing God and ourselves before him. I was glad that the book and it's associated timeline included the Puritans, because I do think their ideas of self-examination and what they had to say on Scripture mediation have to bear on what this book has to say, I think their ideas were also quite different in many ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.
March 5, 2019
When I see the word “mindfulness” being used by Christians, my caution flag comes out.
Let me explain.
Someone I know struggles mightily with mental illness and depression had been prescribed to participate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As I looked over the materials used by the therapists, I was both encouraged and cautioned. The therapy encouraged patients to think about things that were good and lovely, reminding me of truths found in Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, and II Corinthians 10:4-5. But the roots of some of the mindfulness practices of CBT were largely derived from Buddhist meditative tradition.
I encouraged our friend to embrace the biblical aspects of the therapy and reject the rest – to eat the meat and spit out the bones.
In essence, seek to live out a Christian version of mindfulness.
For some people, that probably sounds like an oxymoron. If it’s mindfulness, then it can’t be Christian; if it’s Christian, then it can’t be mindfulness. Right?
Charles Stone has done the Christian community a great service in writing Holy Noticing. In the book he shows that mindfulness, done God’s way, is not Buddhist at all, but biblical.
He defines mindfulness as “the art of holy noticing – noticing, with a holy purpose, God and His handiwork, our relationships, and our inner world of thoughts and feelings.”
Stone writes, “Should Christians embrace [mindfulness] just because everyone else is doing it? No. Much about mindfulness in popular culture has nothing to do with God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity. And ‘Christianizing’ the latest fad dilutes the faith and can lead us astray.“
What Stone has done is to give us a tool to reclaim “holy noticing“ as a lost spiritual discipline for the church today. The second chapter of Stone’s book shows how the Bible and church history support the discipline of holy noticing. I counted almost 200 biblical references throughout the book. Passages like Psalm 139:14, Psalm 139:23–24, Isaiah 26:3, Zephaniah 3:17, Romans 12:1-2, II Corinthians 10:5, and Philippians 4:8 are key verses for Stone’s understanding of holy noticing.
This practical book is well-researched with 294 footnotes, many from scholarly sources and experts in neuroscience. Stone’s training not only as a pastor and theologian but also in neuroscience is evident throughout the book. Christian readers will be pleased to read quotes from trusted leaders and thinkers such as J.I. Packer, Tim Keller, Mark Noll, Oswald Chambers, A.W. Tozer, Trevin Wax, C.H. Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, and J.P. Moreland. The book also shows how Origen, Calvin, Luther, Wesley, and Moody advocated various aspects of holy noticing.
Stone uses an acronym, BREATHe, to help us learn to apply the principles he shares. Holy noticing – noticing with a holy, God focused purpose – means noticing your Body, Relationships, Environment, Affect, Thoughts, and Heart. The last “e” is for engage: engaging the world like Christ. Stone has given us a separate chapter for each practice with simple, practical advice for personal application at the end of each chapter. He shows us how holy noticing cooperates with Bible reading and prayer and, indeed, take those disciplines to a whole new level. It’s especially helpful that he has provided an appendix at the end where we can see how the entire BREATHe process can be applied.
Stone’s warm, pastoral heart; his touching vulnerability about his own daughter’s painful and hopeful journey; and his playful humor are evident throughout the book. Readers will get to know this author. A special encouragement to me was a simple story about a little girl with red pigtails who gave Stone a lesson in holy noticing that he says he will never forget.
Get a copy of the book Holy Noticing. Read it. More importantly, put the principles to practice. You may just experience improved physical health, less anxiety and more restful sleep, better relationships, a greater ability to regulate your emotional responses, a greater ability to engage with others in their pain and their joy, less distraction in your Bible reading and prayer, growth in your character and wisdom, increased sensitivity to see evil and injustice, and a greater love for our triune God.
Let me explain.
Someone I know struggles mightily with mental illness and depression had been prescribed to participate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As I looked over the materials used by the therapists, I was both encouraged and cautioned. The therapy encouraged patients to think about things that were good and lovely, reminding me of truths found in Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, and II Corinthians 10:4-5. But the roots of some of the mindfulness practices of CBT were largely derived from Buddhist meditative tradition.
I encouraged our friend to embrace the biblical aspects of the therapy and reject the rest – to eat the meat and spit out the bones.
In essence, seek to live out a Christian version of mindfulness.
For some people, that probably sounds like an oxymoron. If it’s mindfulness, then it can’t be Christian; if it’s Christian, then it can’t be mindfulness. Right?
Charles Stone has done the Christian community a great service in writing Holy Noticing. In the book he shows that mindfulness, done God’s way, is not Buddhist at all, but biblical.
He defines mindfulness as “the art of holy noticing – noticing, with a holy purpose, God and His handiwork, our relationships, and our inner world of thoughts and feelings.”
Stone writes, “Should Christians embrace [mindfulness] just because everyone else is doing it? No. Much about mindfulness in popular culture has nothing to do with God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity. And ‘Christianizing’ the latest fad dilutes the faith and can lead us astray.“
What Stone has done is to give us a tool to reclaim “holy noticing“ as a lost spiritual discipline for the church today. The second chapter of Stone’s book shows how the Bible and church history support the discipline of holy noticing. I counted almost 200 biblical references throughout the book. Passages like Psalm 139:14, Psalm 139:23–24, Isaiah 26:3, Zephaniah 3:17, Romans 12:1-2, II Corinthians 10:5, and Philippians 4:8 are key verses for Stone’s understanding of holy noticing.
This practical book is well-researched with 294 footnotes, many from scholarly sources and experts in neuroscience. Stone’s training not only as a pastor and theologian but also in neuroscience is evident throughout the book. Christian readers will be pleased to read quotes from trusted leaders and thinkers such as J.I. Packer, Tim Keller, Mark Noll, Oswald Chambers, A.W. Tozer, Trevin Wax, C.H. Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, and J.P. Moreland. The book also shows how Origen, Calvin, Luther, Wesley, and Moody advocated various aspects of holy noticing.
Stone uses an acronym, BREATHe, to help us learn to apply the principles he shares. Holy noticing – noticing with a holy, God focused purpose – means noticing your Body, Relationships, Environment, Affect, Thoughts, and Heart. The last “e” is for engage: engaging the world like Christ. Stone has given us a separate chapter for each practice with simple, practical advice for personal application at the end of each chapter. He shows us how holy noticing cooperates with Bible reading and prayer and, indeed, take those disciplines to a whole new level. It’s especially helpful that he has provided an appendix at the end where we can see how the entire BREATHe process can be applied.
Stone’s warm, pastoral heart; his touching vulnerability about his own daughter’s painful and hopeful journey; and his playful humor are evident throughout the book. Readers will get to know this author. A special encouragement to me was a simple story about a little girl with red pigtails who gave Stone a lesson in holy noticing that he says he will never forget.
Get a copy of the book Holy Noticing. Read it. More importantly, put the principles to practice. You may just experience improved physical health, less anxiety and more restful sleep, better relationships, a greater ability to regulate your emotional responses, a greater ability to engage with others in their pain and their joy, less distraction in your Bible reading and prayer, growth in your character and wisdom, increased sensitivity to see evil and injustice, and a greater love for our triune God.
January 14, 2026
Love the meditation practice (BREATHe). A must for anyone hoping to start connecting more with their heart and mind
May 28, 2019
WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BOOK
The first half of this book had me quite confused. I wasn't entirely sure what it was talking about, or if I agreed with the author or not. I read each chapter with my skepticism rising, but also trying to keep an open mind so I could write a fair review for the book.
It wasn't until the second half of the book that what the author was saying began to make sense to me, and I could nod in agreement and see where he was going. Because of that, I feel like my whole perspective of the book is a bit skewed. I wish the book had been set up a little bit differently without so much "introduction" type writing at the beginning. I do see why the author did that though - I think he was trying to avoid Christian's jumping to conclusions about why he wrote what he did, and write him off as not having Biblical principles.
Essentially the book is teaching how to take time to slow down, be more in touch with the world around us, and therefore better able to focus on what God is doing.
That is something I can get totally on board with, and why I read the book in the first place. The way the author suggests to do that - his BREATHe method (and yes, the last e is lowercase) still has me slightly confused, but goes something like this:
B: Ponder and Yield Your Body
R: Review and Renew your Relationships
E: Notice and Engage your Environment
A: Label and Release Your Afflictive Emotions (Affect)
T: Be Conscious of Current Thoughts
H: Pay Attention to your Spiritual Life (Heart) and the Spirit's whispers
e: engage the world like Christ
See why I was confused? But when I read through the second half of the book where we spend a chapter focusing on each of the letters, it's really not that weird. Instead, the author talks about how to spend time praying about each specific thing.
For instance, when you're on B - your body - what you do is spend three to five minutes each day thanking God for how your body works, His great design, and the various blessings He's given you in your physical body. As you pray, you also stop to notice if you're feeling stress, pain, etc... and if you do, then you pray about that as well.
The author mentioned how he often feels stress in his shoulders, so he breathes deeply and prays about whatever is causing the stress. This made sense to me in both physically and spiritually, because I know that I often clench my jaw without even realizing it, which can actually knock my body out of shape. The chiropractor pointed it out to me a while ago and ever since then I've made sure to relax my jaw whenever I realize I'm clenching it, and it actually has helped me be less stressed.
This book talks a lot about the science behind certain things - like breathing deeply, paying attention to what we focus on, and what various thought patterns (like anxiety) can do to your body, etc.... Then the author brings it all back to the Bible and shows how these principles are healthy not only from the physical and science standpoint but also spiritually.
As far as putting his steps into practice? Well, I'm still not sure what I think about that. I'll probably try it someday and that may change my rating of the book, but who knows. ;) As it is, I will be working at paying more attention to what I dwell on, staying focused in the moment, breathing deeply, and resting in God's goodness.
CONCLUSION
This is one of the hardest-for-me to write book reviews, mostly because I feel like I really didn't fully grasp what the author was saying. If any of y'all have read the book (or do read it) you should totally share your opinions with me.
RATING
I’m giving Holy Noticing three and four out of five stars - reserving my final star count until I've put the principles into practice and re-evaluate what I think of the book. Moody Publishers was very kind to send me a copy of this book so I could review it.
The first half of this book had me quite confused. I wasn't entirely sure what it was talking about, or if I agreed with the author or not. I read each chapter with my skepticism rising, but also trying to keep an open mind so I could write a fair review for the book.
It wasn't until the second half of the book that what the author was saying began to make sense to me, and I could nod in agreement and see where he was going. Because of that, I feel like my whole perspective of the book is a bit skewed. I wish the book had been set up a little bit differently without so much "introduction" type writing at the beginning. I do see why the author did that though - I think he was trying to avoid Christian's jumping to conclusions about why he wrote what he did, and write him off as not having Biblical principles.
Essentially the book is teaching how to take time to slow down, be more in touch with the world around us, and therefore better able to focus on what God is doing.
That is something I can get totally on board with, and why I read the book in the first place. The way the author suggests to do that - his BREATHe method (and yes, the last e is lowercase) still has me slightly confused, but goes something like this:
B: Ponder and Yield Your Body
R: Review and Renew your Relationships
E: Notice and Engage your Environment
A: Label and Release Your Afflictive Emotions (Affect)
T: Be Conscious of Current Thoughts
H: Pay Attention to your Spiritual Life (Heart) and the Spirit's whispers
e: engage the world like Christ
See why I was confused? But when I read through the second half of the book where we spend a chapter focusing on each of the letters, it's really not that weird. Instead, the author talks about how to spend time praying about each specific thing.
For instance, when you're on B - your body - what you do is spend three to five minutes each day thanking God for how your body works, His great design, and the various blessings He's given you in your physical body. As you pray, you also stop to notice if you're feeling stress, pain, etc... and if you do, then you pray about that as well.
The author mentioned how he often feels stress in his shoulders, so he breathes deeply and prays about whatever is causing the stress. This made sense to me in both physically and spiritually, because I know that I often clench my jaw without even realizing it, which can actually knock my body out of shape. The chiropractor pointed it out to me a while ago and ever since then I've made sure to relax my jaw whenever I realize I'm clenching it, and it actually has helped me be less stressed.
This book talks a lot about the science behind certain things - like breathing deeply, paying attention to what we focus on, and what various thought patterns (like anxiety) can do to your body, etc.... Then the author brings it all back to the Bible and shows how these principles are healthy not only from the physical and science standpoint but also spiritually.
As far as putting his steps into practice? Well, I'm still not sure what I think about that. I'll probably try it someday and that may change my rating of the book, but who knows. ;) As it is, I will be working at paying more attention to what I dwell on, staying focused in the moment, breathing deeply, and resting in God's goodness.
CONCLUSION
This is one of the hardest-for-me to write book reviews, mostly because I feel like I really didn't fully grasp what the author was saying. If any of y'all have read the book (or do read it) you should totally share your opinions with me.
RATING
I’m giving Holy Noticing three and four out of five stars - reserving my final star count until I've put the principles into practice and re-evaluate what I think of the book. Moody Publishers was very kind to send me a copy of this book so I could review it.
January 21, 2020
The second title intrigued me: "The Bible, Your Brain, and the mindful space between moments" so I ordered the book. I'm glad I did. It has a lot of great information in it that will help readers be more mindful and live in the present. He gives practical application to his term "BREATHe." I also like the science he shares about the brain and the history of contemplation in the church. He even uses brain science to show that even Saint Paul knew intuitively about the brain's role in "holy noticing." The author explains how this kind of thought and prayer (basically it is meditation the way God's word calls us to meditation) isn't just for the self. It will in fact make all our relationships stronger and make us a whole lot less stressed and at peace. Every part of his book is soaked in scripture. There is no psuedo-feel-good-you're-wonderful kind of feel to the book at all (this I greatly like). I don't know if I would say every person needs to read this, but Believers (or people who are open to believing in Jesus) who have a problem with worry should definitely read this. Also, if you don't call it worry, Believers who stress out a lot should read this. God doesn't call us to a stressed-out or worried life. Worry, in fact, is a form of meditation -- just a very fear-based negative form of meditation (see, you already know how to meditate). Also, there are some great handouts you can download and print off the book's website. Let me share a few passages from this book that I underlined:
"Our being mode gives us a new perspective that fees us from overthinking, mentally reacting, and allowing afflictive emotions or thoughts to snowball. In the being mode we actually stay closer to the truth, which in turn frees us."
"So how does holy noticing come into play at this 'board room' table? (This is one of the handouts you can print off) It helps us make sense of, create space for, and wisely discern the weight we give to the other streans of information. It elevates the quiet voice of the Spirit by dampening the trifecta (cool word) voiices of fear, anxiety, and worry. It quiets mental static and neural noise. It helps us filter out unbiblical thoughts and afflictive emotions, or at least give them less time at the table."
Oh yeah -- something I learned from the book. Each thought we have is like a tiny event in our brain. Each thought takes chemicals and energies and is an event so look at your thoughts that way and be objective. You can then respond to them in kind.
"Our being mode gives us a new perspective that fees us from overthinking, mentally reacting, and allowing afflictive emotions or thoughts to snowball. In the being mode we actually stay closer to the truth, which in turn frees us."
"So how does holy noticing come into play at this 'board room' table? (This is one of the handouts you can print off) It helps us make sense of, create space for, and wisely discern the weight we give to the other streans of information. It elevates the quiet voice of the Spirit by dampening the trifecta (cool word) voiices of fear, anxiety, and worry. It quiets mental static and neural noise. It helps us filter out unbiblical thoughts and afflictive emotions, or at least give them less time at the table."
Oh yeah -- something I learned from the book. Each thought we have is like a tiny event in our brain. Each thought takes chemicals and energies and is an event so look at your thoughts that way and be objective. You can then respond to them in kind.
November 16, 2019
Did you know mindfulness has been practiced by Christians for centuries? I did not know this. In “Holy Noticing: The Bible, Your Brain, and the Mindful Space Between Moments”, the author shares tools to practice a mindful lifestyle and how to use it in our own lives. He takes a common sense, experienced, and scientific view of present moment awareness, and mindfulness. And, he examines and describes how to reduce anxiety in our lives by re-wiring our brain through what he calls “holy noticing”.
Quote by Charles Stone: “Holy noticing practice lowers anxiety and depression and helps us reduce aggressiveness and anger. It can help us get unstuck from the automatic responses to our emotions such as reactivity, hopeless thinking, defensiveness, and self-condemning thoughts…”
The author says the goal of the holy noticing lifestyle is not to avoid feelings or to detach ourselves from emotions, but to notice them and respond to them in a healthy way.
One of my favourite ideas in this book is an exercise called Review and Renew Your Relationships. It’s an exercise using concentric circles (circles inside each other getting smaller and smaller). The author describes this exercise as a visual way to take a healthy inventory of your relationships. The exercise asks you to envision who you might place in the inner circle (perhaps family members and close friends). Then envision who you might put in the next few circles (perhaps works associates, neighbours, and/or extended family). Next, begin thinking of someone in your inner circle and asking yourself questions, such as: “How are things in my relationship with the individual?” “Is our relationship healthy?” “Is there some work I need to do?”
I found this to be a great exercise and it helped me notice places in some of my relationships I could improve. Without this exercise now in my life, I may not have noticed some important improvement areas.
I recommend this book as a great learning tool for present moment awareness and mindfulness from a Christian perspective.
I received this book courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Quote by Charles Stone: “Holy noticing practice lowers anxiety and depression and helps us reduce aggressiveness and anger. It can help us get unstuck from the automatic responses to our emotions such as reactivity, hopeless thinking, defensiveness, and self-condemning thoughts…”
The author says the goal of the holy noticing lifestyle is not to avoid feelings or to detach ourselves from emotions, but to notice them and respond to them in a healthy way.
One of my favourite ideas in this book is an exercise called Review and Renew Your Relationships. It’s an exercise using concentric circles (circles inside each other getting smaller and smaller). The author describes this exercise as a visual way to take a healthy inventory of your relationships. The exercise asks you to envision who you might place in the inner circle (perhaps family members and close friends). Then envision who you might put in the next few circles (perhaps works associates, neighbours, and/or extended family). Next, begin thinking of someone in your inner circle and asking yourself questions, such as: “How are things in my relationship with the individual?” “Is our relationship healthy?” “Is there some work I need to do?”
I found this to be a great exercise and it helped me notice places in some of my relationships I could improve. Without this exercise now in my life, I may not have noticed some important improvement areas.
I recommend this book as a great learning tool for present moment awareness and mindfulness from a Christian perspective.
I received this book courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 23, 2019
"Holy Noticing" presents the benefits of being more present in the moment and seeing the needs around you (rather than rehashing the past or worrying about the future). The author's definition of Holy Noticing is "noticing, with a holy purpose, God and His handiwork, our relationships, and our inner world of thoughts and feelings."
The author talked about how Holy Noticing was practiced by early Christians and pointed out hints of it in the Bible. He then described a 20-minute daily practice that you can do while sitting relaxed, spending about 3 minutes thinking on the areas of: BODY - being aware of how your physical body feels, RELATIONSHIPS - assessing the health of your relationships, ENVIRONMENT - noticing your surroundings (sights, sounds, smells), EMOTIONS - acknowledging the emotions that you currently feel, THOUGHTS - noticing your current thoughts, and SPIRIT - assessing your relationship with God. Then you ENGAGE - paying attention to the people around you and God's promptings throughout the day.
Overall, the book was well done, though some of his examples weren't the best to illustrate his points. For example, he described a test that's used to show how you don't notice other things (distractions) when you're very focused on a task. But he drew the lesson from it that you don't notice the obvious when "distracted" by your task. Okay, true, but that's not quite the point of the test, so maybe something else would have illustrated his point better. I'd recommend this book to those who have been curious about secular "mindfulness" or even meditation practices but who want to stay within more historical Christian practices rather than practices influenced by other religions.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
The author talked about how Holy Noticing was practiced by early Christians and pointed out hints of it in the Bible. He then described a 20-minute daily practice that you can do while sitting relaxed, spending about 3 minutes thinking on the areas of: BODY - being aware of how your physical body feels, RELATIONSHIPS - assessing the health of your relationships, ENVIRONMENT - noticing your surroundings (sights, sounds, smells), EMOTIONS - acknowledging the emotions that you currently feel, THOUGHTS - noticing your current thoughts, and SPIRIT - assessing your relationship with God. Then you ENGAGE - paying attention to the people around you and God's promptings throughout the day.
Overall, the book was well done, though some of his examples weren't the best to illustrate his points. For example, he described a test that's used to show how you don't notice other things (distractions) when you're very focused on a task. But he drew the lesson from it that you don't notice the obvious when "distracted" by your task. Okay, true, but that's not quite the point of the test, so maybe something else would have illustrated his point better. I'd recommend this book to those who have been curious about secular "mindfulness" or even meditation practices but who want to stay within more historical Christian practices rather than practices influenced by other religions.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
March 6, 2019
In our day of constant distractions and business it is often rare to be fully engaged in our daily and spiritual lives. Charles Stone in this book defines holy noticing as, "noticing, with holy purpose, God and His handiwork, our relationships, and our inner world of thoughts and feelings.(p. 32)" Far too often if we are honest we don't notice those things near as much as we should. In this book Charles Stone provides a guide to engage in holy noticing.
In this book Stone begins by defining holy noticing while clearly setting it apart from the mindless meditation which is often reflected in Eastern mysticism and New Age movements. Holy noticing is about cultivating greater awareness of God and others, as opposed to detaching from reality and emptying your mind. Stone shows the biblical basis for this discipline and its practice in church history. The remaining six chapters follow the acrostic BREATHE. These six areas addressed in the acrostic are our bodies, relationships, environment, emotions (affections), thoughts, and heart.
There is much to be commend in seeking to practice holy noticing particularly in regards to our relationship with God and with others. One of the greatest benefits of this book might be in how it shows how little we are engaged in everything and everyone around us while also providing practical steps to grow in holy noticing.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
In this book Stone begins by defining holy noticing while clearly setting it apart from the mindless meditation which is often reflected in Eastern mysticism and New Age movements. Holy noticing is about cultivating greater awareness of God and others, as opposed to detaching from reality and emptying your mind. Stone shows the biblical basis for this discipline and its practice in church history. The remaining six chapters follow the acrostic BREATHE. These six areas addressed in the acrostic are our bodies, relationships, environment, emotions (affections), thoughts, and heart.
There is much to be commend in seeking to practice holy noticing particularly in regards to our relationship with God and with others. One of the greatest benefits of this book might be in how it shows how little we are engaged in everything and everyone around us while also providing practical steps to grow in holy noticing.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
May 3, 2019
On my journey of writing about Christian meditation, I’ve learned the importance of mindfulness. Every time I find a Christian book that discusses this hot topic, I’m eager to get my hands on it. Holy Noticing is about much more than simply being mindful. It teaches us about how our brain processes information and how the Bible can transform our thinking.
Charles Stone writes with wisdom, intelligence and gentleness. He is a careful observer and gladly shares his insights with you. He says that holy noticing is not a replacement for spiritual disciplines like praying, reading the Bible and meditating on God’s Word. Rather, it complements and enhances those important parts of our Christian faith.
He writes about how church history supports holy noticing and lays out a six-fold biblical model for practicing it in your daily life. I like the scientific facts along with specific directives on how to put the model in motion. By putting this book into practice, you will be more centered in your mind, heart, body and soul.
You can access a wealth of free printable resources for Holy Noticing through the links provided in the book. They are ideal for using this book in your Sunday school class or your small group. Holy Noticing reminds me of some of my favorite college classes–it instructs me well through real-life examples while providing takeaways I can apply right now.
Moody Publishers generously provided a preview copy of Holy Noticing for me.
Charles Stone writes with wisdom, intelligence and gentleness. He is a careful observer and gladly shares his insights with you. He says that holy noticing is not a replacement for spiritual disciplines like praying, reading the Bible and meditating on God’s Word. Rather, it complements and enhances those important parts of our Christian faith.
He writes about how church history supports holy noticing and lays out a six-fold biblical model for practicing it in your daily life. I like the scientific facts along with specific directives on how to put the model in motion. By putting this book into practice, you will be more centered in your mind, heart, body and soul.
You can access a wealth of free printable resources for Holy Noticing through the links provided in the book. They are ideal for using this book in your Sunday school class or your small group. Holy Noticing reminds me of some of my favorite college classes–it instructs me well through real-life examples while providing takeaways I can apply right now.
Moody Publishers generously provided a preview copy of Holy Noticing for me.
March 5, 2019
Most of us lead lives that are moving too fast, too stressed out, too tired, too unfocused, uncommitted, and unfulfilled. The question is why do we subject ourselves to this day after day? Is there another way? Charles Stone in this new book, Holy Noticing, shows us a new way to redo our lives. It’s about taking the time to notice. Many today call it “mindfulness”. To some, that means something akin to new age talk. It’s not. Charles describes mindfulness as “the art of holy noticing – noticing, with a holy purpose, God and His handiwork, our relationships, and our inner world of thoughts and feelings.” In reality, we can all use slowing down and noticing people, thoughts and emotions, causes, relationships, things, beauty, nature, and much, much more. Holy Noticing shows us how to achieve this discipline in order to be present, happy, fulfilled, and blessed. If you say you don’t have time to notice, this book is especially for you. It’s very readable, not full of long heavy words and jargon.
March 5, 2019
I had no idea that there are so many books on mindfulness. Holy Noticing is the first one that I have read. I found it encouraging, easy to read, instructional and very practical. Stone clearly communicates concepts to increase focused attention and be present in the moment. I appreciated the step by step examples of slowing down using brief prayers and verses from Scripture. There is also bonus content available online. Learning to be mindful takes practice, but as a beginner, I have already begun to notice small changes. I easily recommend this book to anyone who would like to become more purposeful in making choices in daily life. I received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are mine.
April 23, 2019
"God models this pattern of noticing because He Himself is a perfect noticer. Nothing in our lives is too small or insignificant for Him to notice." pg. 33. I really enjoyed this book. It was one I needed to read. I needed what it said. I hope I can do better at taking the advice in it and better "notice" the areas Charles points us to. The BREATHe concept is really good, practical and helpful. Holy noticing isn't New Age as Charles clarifies. It is a spiritual discipline - and one that needs to be practiced much more. I also really liked how Charles brought together Scripture and neuroscience.
"Most of us live distracted lives. We want to get to a next better moment and fail to notice the present one." pg. 13.
"Most of us live distracted lives. We want to get to a next better moment and fail to notice the present one." pg. 13.
June 1, 2019
It’s so easy to not notice. To become distracted in our spiritual walk. I found it very interesting that although we talk about how easily distracted we are due to the internet, cell phones, etc, this isn’t a new problem.
Including science and history along with Scripture, Author Charles Stone teaches us how to notice again, using the BREATHe model. I found a lot of good information here and would encourage the reader not to try to implement everything at once or it could become overwhelming.
If you desire a deeper, more intimate walk with Jesus, and need some help slowing down, then I would encourage you to read this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Including science and history along with Scripture, Author Charles Stone teaches us how to notice again, using the BREATHe model. I found a lot of good information here and would encourage the reader not to try to implement everything at once or it could become overwhelming.
If you desire a deeper, more intimate walk with Jesus, and need some help slowing down, then I would encourage you to read this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
June 26, 2022
I like the concepts in this book, and I like the practices the author suggests for “holy noticing” (which is basically a Christian version of mindfulness). However, the actual reading of this book was a bit tedious and repetitive. It seems like it could have been a blog post or article or pamphlet or something, but it got stretched into a book. And finally, while I like the practices the author suggests, am I going to implement them in my life right now? No, probably not at this time. So, the fact that after reading this whole book I wasn’t persuaded enough to make any changes made me knock this down from 4 to 3 stars.
March 14, 2019
In this practical and easy read, Stone guides the reader through ancient Christian practices that align the mind with the incarnation of the human heart through the profound yet simple practice of holy noticing. The spiritual discipline of mindfully noticing the presence of God strengthens the capacity for emotional regulation, conscious decision-making, insight, and empathy, bringing more balance, harmony, and well-being into daily life. Kudos to Stone for his BREATHe model, an important Rule of Life for those that desire a deep and transformative relationship with Christ.
February 11, 2024
Great book on the practice of mindfulness with a Christian emphasis. Well researched, the author provides great insight and information from historical faith based practices and tradition, Scripture and modern day scientific study and discovery. Author uses this insight and information to lay out an applicable practice, highlighting the benefits and normalizing the pitfalls and troubleshoots the reader’s ability to overcome or work through them.
Read
April 19, 2025Practical advice on how to see God moving in your every day life. To hear a more in depth review check out my Sub stack articles on the book.
Part 1
https://goodchristianreads.substack.c...
Part 2
https://goodchristianreads.substack.c...
Part 3
https://goodchristianreads.substack.c...
Part 1
https://goodchristianreads.substack.c...
Part 2
https://goodchristianreads.substack.c...
Part 3
https://goodchristianreads.substack.c...
February 28, 2019
This is an interesting topic, and the writer does a good job of laying the basic case for the practice of Holy Noticing (or Christian Mindfulness). I have yet to start the practice, so there is an element of this very practical book that I cannot truly evaluate yet.
I received a free copy of this book, and this is my honest and unaltered review.
I received a free copy of this book, and this is my honest and unaltered review.
January 1, 2024
This book is a good starter to exploring what Biblical mediation is and what it is not. The Author hits core areas of life (mind, soul, heart and strength) and talks about practical ways to live out relationally and with meditation in these spaces. It is a book better to read with someone and talk about practicalities rather than just yourself.
February 1, 2025
I liked this book, but it wasn't what I expected. I thought it would be more about noticing God throughout my day, but instead it teaches a daily practice of noticing your body sensations, your relationships, environment, emotions, thoughts, and heart. I think the practice will be helpful and I plan to use it daily to see if it will help me notice God and others during the rest of my day.
March 25, 2019
An excellent introduction to Christian mindfulness. Rooted in Scripture and modern neuroscience. This book will guide you through practices that will help you be more present to God and others.
Read my full review here:
https://pastorsoul.com/2019/03/20/hol...
Read my full review here:
https://pastorsoul.com/2019/03/20/hol...
December 6, 2019
So very good. I'd recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews