“Be still, and know that I am God…” – Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Take some time right now to think about your day – the activities that filled it, the conversations that dominated it, and more importantly, the pace at which it all unfolded.

The alarm goes off – generally set so that we get as much sleep as possible, meaning… the pace to quickly eat, get dressed, and get commuting is planned down to the minute.  Once we hit work, it’s all about productivity – accomplishing tasks and making sure the workload gets completed as effectively and efficiently as possible.  During breaks and our lunch period, we pay our bills online, catch up with friends or family on Facebook, or check out the latest news on our phones.  After work, we rush to get the kids from school, try to make dinner, tutor and monitor the homework assignments handed out that day, and catch up on our own personal emails and home chores.  Maybe there is a small (very small) part at the end of the day where we can zone out watching a TV program or rifle through a favorite magazine before hitting the sack – doing it all over again, again, and again as the week unfolds.

For me, sometimes life can take on the persona of a raging river.  We can easily get swept up into the fast paced current and soon we are traveling places we never intended to go.  It seems as if we are more “along for the ride” instead of charting a course and heading out to a predetermined destination.

Do you see how we can easily, without much thought or consideration, get swept up into this kind of current – this kind of flow?  If we do, pretty soon we are so far down river that paddling upstream, changing course, or heading down a different tributary is nothing short of impossible.

This is where choosing stillness comes into play. 

Stillness, quietness, and silence are counter-cultural.  They are not of this hurried, busy, man-made world, but are connected to the soul and spirit.  Spirit is who we truly are and why we are here in the first place.  Here is where our created purpose, our destiny, and the meaning behind our life reside.

Think about the still, silent place inside of you where each heartbeat begins, where thoughts emerge, and where all the vital functions of the body work in unison.  These are the very origins of life itself, yet they happen quietly – not in any brash, demonstrative way.  This is where the Spirit of God lives in each of us.  It is where truth and wisdom are found, where strength and healing are readily available, and where miracles and dreams originate.

We connect to the Divine when we humbly choose to be still.  For me, it’s like putting on the brakes or dropping the anchor – taking time to reconnect with what is most important, gaining needed insight or wisdom, or simply reestablishing or resetting the course your life is taking within the day or moment.

Instead of setting the alarm with the intent of barely having enough time to get out the door each morning, plan time to be still – just simply sitting in the presence of God before each day begins.  Instead of starting the day in a hurried pace, choose stillness.  No boisterous prayers need to be said and no special rituals need to be followed.  Eliminate all distractions like phones, other people, or unnecessary noise and simply sit quietly in God’s presence.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…” – James 4:8 ESV

I do this each morning, with coffee in hand in a quiet corner of my living room.  I let go of all thoughts that cloud my mind of the upcoming day and I spend 30 minutes sitting in silence, drawing closer to God.

I can say without hesitation that I have experienced the greatest insights, the most meaningful direction, and the most profound peace during times of stillness.  And when you think about it, if God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and in control of each event of life and through stillness you move closer to Him, then just standing in the presence of omniscience, omnipotence, and sovereignty will give you greater strength, wisdom, and self-control.  It will change your life! 

Maybe your quiet space is outside at night looking at the moon or taking a silent walk in nature.  For me at times, it’s being awakened in the middle of the night – as if God is tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “Come sit with me for a while.  I have something to share with you.”  He knows that everything is quiet and still in the early hours of a new day.  When this happens, instead of getting upset that I can’t sleep, I fluff the pillow, snuggle into the blankets a little deeper, and open my mind and heart to the stillness of the moment – drawing closer to Him.  When this happens to you, allow the moment to take place – allow the stillness to transpire.  Consciously move closer to God and you will be changed in wonderful ways my friend!

The intent of stillness is in essence a reverential, humbling approach to our existence.  It acknowledges a deeper meaning behind this life – one of purpose and destiny.  It realizes that separate from the Source, we will let the raging river of life sweep us away.  It slows life down to see greater purpose in the routines, our role in the life of others, and opens up our hearts to truth, wisdom, insight, and direction that is greater than ours will ever be alone!

Choose stillness today.  Plan for it as if it is essential to your life – like water, food, and rest.  If you do, you will never be the same again.

God bless!