The Practice of Stillness
By Amanda Idleman
"He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10
It's tough to be still. When was the last time you tried it other than to fall asleep? I challenge you to try sitting still for at least five minutes. You'll find it's uncomfortably hard. Your hands usually want to reach for your device, and your mind screams that you need to get moving. Sitting is wasteful, especially when we have full homes and even fuller schedules. Yet, as Christ followers, we are called to practice stillness. That's actually where God meets us. He begins to reveal who he is to our hearts when we pause in quiet reflection. He's not a shouting God. He is patient and waits for us to open ourselves up to him. When we pause, we begin to notice his hand at work. We see he is worthy of praise because we can notice more than the urgent. Our eyes begin to be opened to see beauty, not just a necessity. In stillness, we also become aware of our needs. In the hustle, we can ignore our deficits. It's easy to get busy and pass by the pain we carry from things we've inevitably lost over the course of our lives. If we keep pressing, achieving, and filling our cups with the things in this world, we can live without knowing God.
God takes time. While he is always present, there is no easy button for growing in your faith. Knowing God takes a posture of surrender. We are called to study God's Word. Faith is active, not passive. It requires our full attention. Attending to God's world requires a level of focus that is easily stolen from us. We cannot participate in without pausing to consider. Constant movement leaves no space for careful thought. God asks us to give him our mind, body, and spirit, which can only be presented to him if we pause long enough to wonder how we came to be. His purpose for us is revealed in the quiet places.
Our healing happens when we stop to ask for his help. It is not until we reach for him that he can grab onto our hearts and do new work. God pursues us but doesn't force us into a relationship with him. Our broken hearts, bodies, and minds are cared for by our Maker when we invite him into our lives. We set aside the noise that tells us we have to figure it all out on our own and recognize our need for a miracle-working God. When he touches our lives, he gives us a testimony we can share for his glory.
What can we do to begin to practice stillness? To pause and consider who God is and what he wants for our lives? How can our priorities shift in a way that makes room for Jesus to be a part of our story? We can make pausing and pursuing God a part of our daily rhythm. After we make our bed, we stop at the edge to thank God for a new day. Before we fill our bellies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we fold our hands and pray that God be with us. Before we snuggle back into bed, we kneel and ask God to carry the burdens we have picked up over the course of the day. Stillness is a discipline that requires intentionality. It helps keep us centered and grounded in our faith. It reminds us that we have a relational God that desires to be with us through it all.
Father, help us to cultivate a rhythm for our lives that includes the discipline of stillness. Let us always pursue knowing you. Keep our priorities in the proper alignment so we don't lose focus on your hand at work in our lives. Remind us of your nature daily. Let us find peace in knowing you. We love you. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/EmilyNorton
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 17 July 2023.
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