Be Still

Sitting quietly, still and at rest does not come naturally to me.  Even in my prayer/study time I want to be active and doing, reading, writing, praying, chattering away to the Lord.  Like a little bird flitterring from leaf to leaf, sometimes I feel like I am not stopping long enough to breath, listen and absorb. I feel like I need to be "doing something" to be productive in my time with the Lord.   I wonder perhaps if I am forfeiting much of God's power in my life by not engaging in, and practicing more of this "sitting quietly before the Lord."   Maybe the quietness before the Lord is where the power to implement what we learn comes from.  Hmmmmm.

But oh the peace of those moments when I stop, close my eyes and just bask in God's presence. Those "visits" are beautiful, serene, and  filled with promise.   I love it!  This morning I vow to come before the Lord and rest in His arms, quietly soaking up His peace, His strength and substance.  A sponge is useless as it sits dried out on a counter.  Nothing can get cleaned by it or wiped up until it has absorbed the water needed to soften and expand it's form.  I'm thinking like a sponge, I need to soak up the Lord, let Him soften my heart and expand His very essence in my life.

Psalm 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  

The Holy Spirit brings to mind the times Jesus calmed the seas.  the waters roiled and raged, and sometimes it feels like that inside my heart and head....constant movement.  Mark 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  The winds of emotion blow feelings and words to and fro, while the waves of busyness, even spiritual busyness take me from one activity to another.  I am sensing the Lord asking me to take the time to stop, digest, and  to actually receive the enable-ment from God that comes from a quiet heart.  I'm so loving this!!!

This new spiritual discipline excites me.  And I know it will take practice as I am more of a "human- doing" than human being!  LOL  But practice I will and grow I will!   Even if I only manage with a couple of minutes today it's start on a glorious path.

Lord, help us all to be still in Your presence.  To just be, to just rest.  Lamentations 3:26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  Quiet our hearts and minds.

Will you start the spiritual practice of quiet today?