Be Still

Quiet Waters

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10, ESV)

There it is again: Be still. I grew up in a household in which being still was equated with laziness, and laziness was a very very bad thing. Sleeping in, sitting down, watching TV, reading a book, were all things that were only to be enjoyed if absolutely every task you were assigned was completed and completed accurately.

As an adult, when does your task list end? It doesn’t. There is always something that beckons for your attention. Your work. Your family. Your household maintenance. Your phone! Oh my goodness, just my phone can send me into a to do list and I don’t even participate in any social media. I just feel highly compelled to be responsible with communication.

What did Jesus do? First of all, he fasted from his phone. Okay he didn’t have a phone, but I bet he would have fasted from it. In Mark 1:32-34 we read, “That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.”

Did you see his list? Healing sick. Casting out demons. The “whole city was gathered at the door.” Are you kidding me? The whole city? That had to be exhausting.

So what did Jesus do—for reals? Keep reading in verse 35, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Jesus took time to be still away from the lists, the people, the expectations.

Try it. Turn your phone off and let Him lead you beside still waters (Psalm 23:2). Don’t DO anything. Just BE still in His presence. Your lists will wait and you just may be restored while you are there.

Posted in Touchstone.

3 Comments

  1. It feels very strange to not be DOING anything. Sitting in silence, breathing and seeking God is not easy in this life of marriage, parenthood, work, school and ministry. However, it is probably the most important thing we can do in a day. Thanks for the reminder.

  2. To be still and pray and listen such a special
    time with our Lord Jesus, pray we never take it for granted. He hears our hearts, the praises of His grace in everything. Take time to be still, thank you!

  3. I’d love to say I have it down, being still that is, but I don’t. Funny thing it, when I do obey Him by doing this, THE RESULTS ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO DO OTHERWISE. That’s why He knows what is best for us. Shhhhhhhhhh.

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