"BE STILL"

 

Back in November I was going through a really rough time and a friend sat me down and said, "Be still." He reminded me to trust God's plan and that what was happening in that moment was all part of His perfect plan. He told me about the recent church conference he had been to all and that it was all about being still and prioritizing God above all else. He gave me different ideas on how to slow down and be still and I went home that day holding onto these two words with everything in my soul. I immediately looked up verses that contain these two simple words: BE STILL. As I made my way through the day every time I found myself going under, I whispered these words to myself and recited the different verses I had written down in my journal. After I got out of my little rut this concept of being still stuck with me, and it started to change the way I saw and prioritized my quiet time with God. 

So what is the act of being still? It's not just the act of slowing down; rather, we are being still before the Lord. We are saying "Lord this isn't in my hands but in yours." It's an act of total surrender and trust, acknowledging that you have no power over the situation. This act of being still allows the Lord to fight your battles for you. (Psalm 46:10, Exodus 14:14)

It's also an action of praise. In a world so built on hustle culture we often are always finding a way to fill the empty space whether it's scrolling through tiktok or instagram, playing loud music, or filling up our schedules. One thing my friend's advice challenged me on is the action of never stopping. What if the silence and stillness are meant for something. What if the silence and stillness was meant for something? What if we didn't fill up those moments but simply sat? God invites us into his presence and He WANTS us to sit with him. To just be still and listen for His voice and feel Him near.

When doing my quiet time I often find one favorite spot wherever I may be at. I find I feel the most stillness when I go back to those spots. Maybe it's a porch swing or a seat by the window, but wherever it may be, find that special spot. Mine normally consists of somewhere where I can see outside. Sometimes I'll turn on soft worship music. Not distracting or loud worship music but soft, background, soul soothing, worship music. Then I'll open my Bible. Sometimes I read it in that time, sometimes I don't and I just have it open on my lap or hugged to my chest. I also like to prayer journal. God wants to hear it all. The good, the bad and the ugly. Writing it down allows you to go back and see how He has moved throughout the months. If there's not enough time to do all of these things in the moment that ok too, the most important part is that you just do nothing and meditate on God. 

Now you may be thinking, "It feels weird to sit in a silent room and 'feel' God's presence," but I want to assure you that while it may be weird at first, it's life-changing. To simply sit in his presence and soak up His nearness is something that is incomparable to anything else. I challenge you today, just as my friend challenged me, to "BE STILL." Don't try to fill every moment, but instead allow yourself to do nothing but sit in His presence. Allow Him time to speak to you and comfort you. Quiet time isn't all about just reading your Bible but is about spending time with God and just simply being with Him. 

Shortly after this our initial conversation about being still, I went to a black belt all ladies camp with to other girls. They had this fantastic porch with a breathtaking view and after the long days of training and socializing, I would go up on the porch with my Bible and prayer journal and worship music and stare off into the hills and feel His presence as I read His word. I would speak to him and just enjoy sitting with him. There was one evening I felt the spirit tell me to invite my friend Lola to come pray with me. She ended up coming up on the porch with me and I prayed. It ended up being a sweet sweet time. In fact some of my fondest memories of that trip were made in the stillness of that porch. The Lord can do great things, we need only to be still. May you find the same sense of peace and comfort and may you feel Him near as you sit in His presence today. 

Ways to Be Still:

• Be somewhere quiet and just close your eyes and let yourself be wrapped in his presence 

• Open your Bible. Read it. Not hurriedly but taking time to soak up each word. Maybe even read the passage more than once. Leave it opened as you pray or sit still. Hug it to your chest as you praise the Father

• Play soft worship music. Not loud worship songs but soul soothing ones

• Prayer journal. Write it all down so you can see how God moved later on.