Making Space For What Matters: Stillness

Here is the devotional:

Imagine you’re standing on a hill by yourself. A stream trickles beside you while birds chirp happily above you. The sun beats down on your face while a gentle breeze blows by. Everything looks calm and quiet—but your mind is racing through a list of tasks you’ve left undone, problems you can’t solve, and brokenness you can’t fix. Although you’re in a tranquil place, the sound of your own thoughts is keeping you from enjoying what’s happening around you.

What would it take for you to pause, silence the noise, and be still?

Through stillness, we learn to pay attention to what God is doing in us and around us. But stillness is both active and passive. It involves allowing God to refocus our vision and tune our ears to His voice while we give Him the noise inside us. It requires surrendering our worries, concerns, and problems to God while allowing Him to refocus our hearts on Him.

As we practice this spiritual habit, we become more equipped to give God glory for His power at work in our lives because we start to notice what God has already been doing in our lives.

Action Step: Get away for a few hours this week and practice giving God whatever concerns come to mind. It’s okay if you have to do this repeatedly for a while. Just use this time to silence the noise inside you and get into the habit of making space to hear God’s voice.

Here are the scriptures referenced:

The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Exodus 14:14 KJV

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Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalm 37:7 KJV

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Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:38‭-‬42 KJV

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Here are Stu’s thoughts:

How many of us go on vacation and can’t really enjoy said vacation because our mind will not shut up about things left undone?

About that anniversary get away?

Ladies how about that coveted bath time but you’re too busy thinking of all you need to do when you get out to enjoy it?

How about just trying to pray?

Being still is more than just not moving. I actually incorporates your mind as well. And that is not easy because the devil does not want you praying at all.

But part of praying is casting our cares upon the Lord. Instead of thinking about all you need to do why not just let the Lord know about them.

Once you have laid them out there just breathe deeply and let the Lord ease you mind for a bit. Everything that needs to be done will still be there when you finish praying. You may also find yourself with more energy to accomplish them.

Just a simple prayer like Lord, I have all these things that I need to get done but I also know I need to spend time with you so please give me the strength to accomplish this…that…and the other after we sit and talk. Then try to just be empty of all things except you and the Lord.

I know this will take time to work on. But if you do it daily it will become easier and you will be able to be still in the Lord.

I’ll let you know how it works out for me next week. I’m going to try it.