“Be still and know that I am God (1).
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
It starts with ‘be.’
Just be, dear one.”
–Shauna Neiquist (2)
Moments of quiet, contemplative silence are rare for many people. We’ve been swept up in the cultural norms of productivity: use time wisely and stay on task. Better yet, multi-task.
But there is tremendous power and blessing in stillness.
Quietness of spirit:
- creates space for us to hear God’s voice
- builds bonds of trust between us and God
- accelerates our understanding of God
- revitalizes our spirits
- brings the peace of God to our hearts
Surely these are desirable outcomes that warrant a few minutes each day to just be—in the presence of God.
The question becomes, how do we achieve such a goal when other responsibilities clamor loudly for our attention?
Like any priority, we must make time. Begin with five minutes; you’ll soon be craving more.
Choose a secluded place. For years I sat at our kitchen table early in the morning, before anyone else in the house got up. Now I enjoy the luxury of a private home office. But when the weather allows, I revel in sitting on the deck with God, surrounded by his creation.
Not everyone has such options. I know one young mother who has chosen the bathroom as her place of stillness!
Put your God-given imagination to work. We considered the gift of imagination a couple of weeks ago, in a post titled: Oh, What We’re Missing. You can borrow my visualization if you like–the one I use if quiet time must take place indoors:
Picture a peaceful lake shrouded in morning mist. On a dock are two Adirondack chairs, one for you and one for Jesus. He’s already sitting in his, because he loves to spend quality time with his children. As you settle in your chair, reach out your hand for his. Just sit in companionable silence for a moment.
Another option: picture a place where you’ve experienced Jesus’ peace before, and imagine yourself there with him again.
Be physically still. Relax. The original Hebrew word translated “be still” can also be translated “cease striving.” Take several slow, deep breaths, and prayerfully set aside the to-list and concerns.
Focus on Jesus and contemplate his attributes. When distracting thoughts pop up (and they will!), add them to the to-do list or the prayer list as needed (keep them handy!), then turn back to Jesus.
Remember: He understands how hard it is for us to sit quietly with him; he does not expect perfection. What he does treasure is our persistence to seek him (3).
Listen. “Deep within the center of the soul is a chamber of peace where God lives and where, if we will enter it and quiet all the other sounds, we can hear his gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12)” (4).
You may wish to keep a journal and pen nearby as God reveals impressions in your heart. Perhaps it will just be one word or a single thought at first. Write it down. From that starting point you just might grow a paragraph, or even a page of God-thoughts.
But don’t worry if you hear no whisper. “In God’s presence is peace (Isaiah 26:3), joy (Psalm 16:11), and strength (Proverbs 18:10)—whether words are exchanged or not.
In A Quiet Place in a Crazy World, Joni Eareckson Tada wrote about her Uncle Vince, who had constructed a prayer room complete with fake paneling, some stained glass from an old church, and a couple of old, musty tapestries. The only furniture was a small prayer kneeler and a Bible stand.
Joni remembers thinking it was stuffy and tacky. Years later she realized how wise Uncle Vince was to have a special place where he met Jesus. That was undoubtedly the reason he prayed on the golf course and on his hikes with Joni and her family.
“Uncle Vince encountered God every place, because he had one place,” she wrote (5).
How we need such a place…
…to just be.
It starts with be.
Notes:
- Psalm 46:10
- Shauna Neiquist, Present over Perfect
- Sarah Young, Jesus Always
- L. B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert
- Joni Eareckson Tada, A Quiet Place in a Crazy World
Photo credits: http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.maxpixel.net; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.pexels.com; http://www.pixabay.com.
From the Inside Out 
Hi Nancy, this is a wonderful post! I have daily private time with the Lord, but you have given me some new ideas. – Jen
Thank you, Jen. Sometimes a new idea can breathe welcome refreshment into our quiet times!
Dear Nancy,
What encouraging, refreshing thoughts.
How’s Steve doing today? How are you?
Love,
Diane
Thank you, Diana. Steve is doing well today, as am I. We’ll enjoy the company of family next week. Can’t wait!!
Nancy, this post is so timely. We talked about this yesterday at the Encouragers meeting. With your permission, I will gladly share this with our participants. We had an exhilarating discussion yesterday and I think we all left with uplifted hearts and souls. Love to you and Steve.
By all means, feel free to share this post with the Encouragers. So delighted to hear your positive report about Wednesday’s meeting!
You would think that as a person who lives alone it wouldn’t be a challenge to find ‘quiet time’, but random thoughts often intrude on my time with my Heavenly Father. The devil does his best to divert my attention, even to the point that I waste precious time berating myself when this happens. I’m so grateful that the Lord does not expect perfection. Loved the Vince story that you shared from Joni. Great post, Nancy.
Distractions plague nearly everyone, I think. Somewhere I read or heard that God well understands our predicament (He does NOT expect perfection, just as you’ve said.), and the best strategy is to turn the distraction into a prayer, then return to the business at hand–Bible study, worship, intercession for others, etc. I’m still working on developing that habit!! Thank you for your encouragement, Cheri.
As an addedum to my above comment, I was just reading a devotional from The Institute for Creation Research entitled ‘Gracious Strength’. …gracious strength is acquired ‘by spending times of quietness before the Lord in prayer and study. “Their strength is to sit still. . . . in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:7, 15). In other words to ‘be’ still!!! I so appreciate when the Lord ties His truths together into a wonderful cohesive present for me with a beautiful bow on top! It’s like a double blessing!!!
Oh, yes–praise God for his double blessing of confirmation! And thank you for sharing the blessing with us.
Love your words.
A reminder for me to trust more and worry less.
Thank you Nancy.
And thank you, Sunshiny, for stopping by and sharing your encouragement!
Amen! Thank you! I do remember a time, long ago, when Jesus kept repeating to me, “It’s BE not DO, it’s BE not DO”. It has taken me many years to understand what He meant by that but I am so thankful for those powerful words.
Thank you for this post.
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
You are most welcome, Homer. Thank YOU for stopping by and taking the time to comment. “It’s BE not DO” is an easy instruction to remember, not so easy to live out. Even in Christian circles, value and success are often measured by the level of one’s active involvement. But it is the time invested in BEing that empowers the DOing he directs–and creates fruit that will last (John 15:4-5).
Hi Nancy,
Thank you, Lord for wonderful quiet times. Thank you, Nancy for sharing those quiet moments.
Oh, yes–praise God for wonderful quiet times! He surely does make us glad in the joy of his presence (Psalm 21:6)!