#WhereisJesusRN: A Mindfulness-Based, Cognitive-Therapy Approach to Abiding in Christ

By Amanda Torre

Have you ever struggled with connecting to Jesus in the everyday ordinary moments? Do you feel distant from God and want to refresh and renew your walk with Him? Many of us find it easier to connect with Jesus while reading the Bible or praying in a quiet, isolated place. Finding a way to abide in Jesus when we are in autopilot for the day is quite difficult. We often forget to ask ourselves where Jesus is right now, in this moment.

#WhereisJesusRN provides tools and guidance for connecting and abiding with Jesus in the day-to-day moments in which we often overlook his presence, by utilizing common therapeutic interventions and applying them to a faith-based lens. This book allows you to find personal and relational growth with Jesus in a modern and fast paced world. The advice herein, based on mindfulness practices, will help readers find peace and assurance through Jesus, even in times of stress and uncertainty.

Mother, wife, and counselor Amanda Torre’s hope for you as you read this book is that you may notice and abide in God in all moments of your life, not just when you sit to have alone time with Him. She prays this book will bring you closer to the Lord as you go on the journey of life with Him. Never forget to seek out Jesus’s presence even in the midst of life’s busy moments.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385002856

Amanda Torre

Amanda Torre is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in San Diego, California. She received her bachelor’s in psychology and master’s in marital and family therapy from the University of San Diego. Amanda has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. As a believer in Jesus Christ, she has a passion for drawing clients closer to God through the therapeutic setting.

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 Amanda Torre.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0284-9 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0283-2 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0285-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023913130

WestBow Press rev. date:  08/31/2023

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: ABIDE: Anchoring

Chapter 2: ABIDE: Believe

Chapter 3: ABIDE: Imitate

Chapter 4: ABIDE: Decide

Chapter 5: ABIDE: Engage and Exalt

Chapter 6: Putting It All into Practice with Mindfulness

References

Preface

This book came to fruition because of my desire for people to notice where Christ is in their everyday, ordinary moments. As a wife and mother of four boys with a full-time job counseling individuals, couples, and families, finding time to abide in Christ seems nearly impossible. That is why as a believer in Christ who desires to grow in relationship with the Lord, I cherish my quiet, alone time with Christ. My time with God rejuvenates and fills me with the love and patience I need to carry out God’s mission in my life.

Most mornings, I wake up before my husband and kids. I get dressed and grab my Bible as I prepare to receive his instruction for the day. I look forward to hearing what he has to say. Sometimes I receive instruction, and other times, I receive encouragement. Whatever it may be, he lifts me up for the work ahead. Sometimes I get through my entire time with God, and sometimes I get interrupted by something or someone. On other days, one of my sons wakes up before my eyes are open, and soon enough, the day has jump-started before I can even say, Good morning, God! I get right into changing diapers, getting milk, looking for and changing clothes, washing the dishes, and driving kids off to school. As I lay down at the end of the day, I ask myself, Where was my Jesus time today? Initially, I feel mad and blame it on having kids (don’t judge me), but Jesus starts to whisper to me, I am here. Notice me. Abide in me.

This is when things begin to transform for me. I no longer have an excuse or get frustrated when my alone time with God vanishes before my eyes. During this time in my life, I feel God growing me to experience and notice his love throughout the day and not just in the morning when I have my alone time with him. After all, with four boys running around, a husband who needs my love, and being called to counsel others, I cannot be a monk and escape to the mountains to have my alone time with him all day. God is showing me that he is present and wants me to notice him all the time. He is calling me to abide with and seek him in the everyday moments as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.

At this time, I begin to ask myself, Where is Jesus at right now? not in a come-rescue-me type of way but in an I-know-you-are-here-with-me-help-me-to-notice-where-you-are-in-the-room-space type of way. As I began to do this and to counsel others to do the same, I noticed a major shift in the three Ms: mood, mind, and mission (more on this later). My hope for you as you read this book is that you will notice and abide in God during all moments of your life and not only when you sit to have your alone time with him. I pray this book may bring you closer to the Lord as you go on the journey of life with him.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank God for placing this book on my heart and encouraging me to provide it as a legacy for my children, family, and friends and to promote peace, compassion, and empathy in the world. I am so thankful for my husband, who encouraged me to go for it and always lifted me up when I doubted myself. I thank my kids for being my inspiration to be and do better, which is what this book is all about. I also want to thank my mom for always being my biggest fan. I want to send lots of respect and appreciation to my cousin Ashely, who has a master’s degree in theology, for helping me review the doctrine and theology of this book to make sure that readers will be obtaining the truth from his Word. Lastly, I would like to thank Gabrielle Gallegos for the inspiration and creativity of the original cover design. I love you all so very much.

Introduction

I’d like to begin by sharing what a good day in my shoes looks like. My alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. I get out of bed, put my contacts in, brush my teeth, get dressed, grab my Bible and journal, and head to the living room sofa where I sit by the window. I add water and oil to my essential-oil diffuser as I prepare to hear God speak to me through his word. The light from the sun creeps in as it rises for a new day. I open the Word of God and study for about fifteen-to-twenty minutes and then journal for another fifteen-to-twenty minutes.

As I finish up my time with God, I hear my infant boy begin to stir in his crib. I prepare his milk and my husband’s coffee and then take it to them. I go to wake