Paying Attention to the Quiet: Mindfulness and Ministry
Recently, I was having breakfast with a retired First Responder. They’ve had their share of struggles and challenges over the years as they answered the call to serve their community. The impact wasn’t just personal—it rippled through their family life too. Since retiring, they’ve been learning what it means to be healthy again. Unplugging from the fast-paced intensity of their work has been part of that healing.
We talked about what I’d call “the adrenaline of busyness.” As humans, we’re remarkably skilled at staying distracted. So much of North American life is wired to keep us numbed to what’s really going on—inside and around us. And sometimes that numbing is necessary, especially if you have the privilege to rest. But it’s also important to carve out time to unplug and notice what starts to rise to the surface when things finally go quiet.
That’s where a mindfulness practice can help. I’ve been using Headspace for a while now and really value its guided meditations. But there are many others—like Calm, Lectio 365, or Insight Timer. And of course, time in prayer can be just as grounding.
Sometimes the most faithful act is to stop, breathe, and notice.
Check out these apps that could help you begin or maintain a mindfulness practice.
Headspace
Headspace is a digital mental health platform designed to support your well-being through meditation, mindfulness, and therapeutic tools. Their mission is to make lifelong mental health support accessible to everyone, offering practical resources that help people manage stress, increase focus, and build daily habits of calm and clarity. Through their app, Headspace offers guided meditations, sleepcasts, breathing exercises, and focus-enhancing music. They also provide tailored resources for families, workplaces, and individuals new to mindfulness. Whether it’s learning how to breathe through anxiety, focus your thoughts, or simply be more present while eating or working, Headspace invites users into a more grounded, intentional way of living.
For ministry leaders navigating emotional weight and spiritual fatigue, Headspace can be a helpful companion—offering space to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with both self and Spirit.
Calm
Calm is the world’s #1 mental health app, created to help you sleep better, reduce stress, and live more mindfully. With over 180 million downloads and millions of 5-star reviews, Calm offers a wide range of evidence-based tools to support your mental health at every stage of the journey.
From 60-second breathing exercises and guided meditations to music, movement, and over 500 Sleep Stories®, Calm meets you wherever you are—whether you’re anxious at work, struggling to fall asleep, or needing a moment of peace. The app also features sessions focused on burnout, workplace stress, and mindful stretching, making it a helpful resource for leaders navigating the daily pressures of ministry.
Calm’s mission is simple: to help everyone sleep more, stress less, and build habits for emotional well-being. It’s a pocket-sized companion for creating calm in the chaos.
Lectio365
The Lectio 365 App is a powerful tool for spiritual formation, designed to help believers pray and meditate on Scripture throughout their day. Inspired by the ancient rhythms of prayer practiced by Jesus and His disciples, the app invites you to pause three times daily—morning, midday, and evening—to connect with God through prayer and reflection.
Whether you’re seeking to deepen your personal relationship with God or lead your congregation into a more intentional prayer life, Lectio 365 offers accessible, Scripture-centered devotions that bring peace and focus in a busy world.
Insight Timer
Home to over 300,000 guided meditations, music tracks, talks, and live events designed to support your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. With more time spent on the app than any other mindfulness platform, it offers unparalleled variety—whether you're looking for breathwork, deep sleep support, or workshops on trauma, healing, and personal growth.
Designed to meet people wherever they are, Insight Timer features resources for beginners and seasoned meditators alike, with specialized content for families, workplace wellness, and community connection. Users can also access live sessions, mentoring, and chat groups, making it a uniquely interactive experience. Insight Timer prioritizes inclusivity, depth, and genuine human connection over commercial metrics. It’s a space where simply showing up can begin to shift how we experience stress, rest, and spiritual presence in daily life.
Let Us Know!
Have you used one of these apps or another tool for maintaining a mindfulness or meditative practice? Leave us a comment below.