The Art of Being Still

Psalm 4:4 (TPT) Tremble in awe before the Lord, and do not sin against him. Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT) Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

If you are ready to grow closer to God and desire to hear from Him regularly I have good news and bad news. The good news is this: you aren't required to "do" much. The bad news is: what is required can be difficult - being still and waiting patiently… It's easy in the sense of what is required, but learning how be still, how to wait, how to put everything else on hold while you sit… and wait… it can be quite the challenge. Why? The enemy knows this is when we can say no to distractions and yes to God. This is when we connect with Jesus, it's like our phone call to Heaven and the devil wants to lie to us and say the line is busy or we have more important matters at hand like laundry or catching up on this week's big news headline (no thanks!).

I would much rather hear what God has to say than the press. God's information is for eternity, the news only gives temporal information and most of the time the facts aren't even right, many reporters are just following a script like puppets. When we are still, we can enter into His presence, the weight of His glory falls upon us and the cares of this world are removed from our minds as He cleanses us of all the junk inside. Living in a fallen world, we will be exposed to many things that are ungodly and completely horrific, it's important to go to God daily so we can remove the junk and become filled with His love. This equips us to go out and allow that love to overflow to the hurting.

If you suffer from anxiety and feel like you have to always be on the go and sitting still can seem like torment - take these scriptures and meditate on them. Speak them out loud and relax in God's presence, play some worship music that calms your spirit so you can focus on what God wants to share with you. I tend to have the "Martha" mentality (Luke 10) that feels like I have to keep doing, doing, doing but Jesus is saying slow down, focus on what is really important here. We must become students of Christ and allow Him teach us His ways for they are far better than what man thinks. I pray that you will take this as a challenge to know Him more and grow in your journey as you take time to learn the art of being still before the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 (TPT) Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!

Psalm 37:7 (NLT) Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Psalm 40:1 (TPT) I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry.

Psalm 46:10 (TPT) Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.

Psalm 62:5 (TPT) I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the one I love, waiting as long as it takes for him to rescue me. Only God is my Savior, and he will not fail me.

Exodus 14:14 (VOICE) The Eternal will fight on your behalf while you watch in silence.

Job 6:24 (VOICE) In all seriousness, teach me, and I will be silent. Where I have erred? Help me understand.