Be Still

"...meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still." Psalm 4:4

 It's a challenge to be still in today's world. Cell phones, fun apps, computers, tv's, and surfing the web. All of these can be fun and enjoyable. But all of these can at times take us away from being still in God's presence.

Being still in God's presence brings us direction, breathes life into us, and enables us to hear God's voice. It allows us not only to speak to God, but to listen.

Technology is important in today's world and it make many things easier. But we all have to decide the amount that is necessary in our lives. A whole day could be wasted away when on the internet and on various gadgets. Most of it will not have left you feeling peaceful and whole. It can leave you feeling depleted. And you can almost count that it will not have left you wiser to God's word.

It's so important to listen to God and learn from Him. Straight from His voice and straight from His word. There is no substitute, not even with all technology offers. God often speaks in a still and quiet voice.

We can't hear it if we don't make a conscious decision to make the time to listen. We have to strip away all the unnecessary distractions, and ask God for wisdom on what stays and what goes!

Contemplative prayer was a very important part of Jesus' life and the apostles.

After Jesus healed a man with leprosy, word got out. Crowds came to hear him preach and be healed. But amongst all of this, the Bible says that "Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer." Luke 5:16

Even Jesus had to retreat from all of the clamor to hear God's voice. We can only be strengthened and gain wisdom when we retreat from our busyness, our sometimes unnecessary activity to hear God's voice. If Jesus found it necessary, how much more is it necessary for us?

"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12

We can miss a life truly lived for God if we don't go against the grain of constant clamor. We can miss what God really wants for us and our lives.

It's so important to have days with "nothing" on the schedule. "Nothing" doesn't mean there won't be some laundry, some dishes, some cooking, basic daily tasks, and taking care of our kids and playing with them. But "nothing" in our daily life can simply look like no extra activities, no extra busyness for that time period. If we always have to fill up with activity, we might be avoiding God's voice.

Our schedule doesn't need to be jam packed to make us feel good about ourselves. To make us feel we have a purpose. We already have a great purpose in God's eyes. He took the time to form us and shape us. He already feels good about us. 

"...for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

God will give us time to do everything He sets before us in each designated season of life. And every season will require that some of that time is spent being still in His presence. Otherwise, we won't know what we are to be doing during that time of life that God has given us.

He won't tell us anything that will harm us. It might be challenging, but it will always be for our good. We shouldn't fill up all of our time because we are afraid of what God might tells us. He only has our good in mind. He is a loving father, without selfishness, and without flaw.  "You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts." Jeremiah 32:18

There is no scripture in the Bible that says we have to use every latest app, and be involved in every activity.

“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.” Ecclesiastes 4:5

Being idle can also be defined as doing activities that aren't fruitful and are really time wasters. God only tells us not to be idle in His wisdom. It means don't be idle in living for Him, and don't be idle in the tasks He has specifically put before us to do with diligence. (ie supporting our family, raising our children, spending time with our families, doing the work that keeps our homes going and pays our bills)

We can be walking with folded idle hands, even while being busy, if we don't pursue the right things and use our time as wisely as we can. Our hands can be idle in God's eyes if we are wasting the work of our hands and not pursuing what He has given us to do.

When we are still we can learn of His holiness. We can see His majesty. His good works in our lives and all He has done. We have to have time to reflect on these things or we lost sight of all God has done and all He is to us. All He has done for us in the past and all He has planned for the future.

"Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

Our soul will not know this well if we are never still in His presence.

So take time to be still in whatever way you can. It will look different for everyone. It will bring you peace, learning, and greater understanding. Most importantly, it will help clear out the unnecessary clutter in your life, mind, body and soul.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”  Psalm 46:10