Day 3: Be Still and Know
When was the last time you were truly still?
You weren’t scrolling.
Not answering a text.
Not making a list in your head.
You aren’t thinking about what needs to be done next.
Just still.
In a world that constantly tells us to do more, accomplish more, respond faster, and keep moving, being still can feel almost uncomfortable.
But sometimes the thing our hearts need most isn’t another thing to do.
It’s time to be still with God.
Let Him Fill You.
We can spend so much of our lives pouring ourselves out.
We pour into our husbands.
Children.
Families.
Work.
Our homes.
Responsibilities.
Friends.
And sometimes we keep pouring even when our own hearts are running on empty.
But we were never meant to live empty.
Jesus invites us to come to Him.
To rest.
Abide.
Receive.
And be filled.
There is something beautiful that happens when we stop striving long enough to simply sit in God’s presence.
We remember that He is God—and we are not.
We don’t have to carry everything.
There is no need to have to figure everything out.
Trust Him to control the outcome.
Just be still and know and trust.
What Does “Be Still” Look Like?
Being still might look different for each of us.
It might be sitting in your favorite chair with your Bible and a cup of coffee before the house wakes up.
Maybe taking a quiet walk and talking with God.
Turning off your phone for fifteen minutes or, better yet, not picking up your phone first thing in the morning.
Perhaps it is sitting outside and noticing His creation.
Or, journaling what is on your heart and then giving it to Him.
It might simply be closing your eyes, taking a deep breath, and whispering:
“Jesus, I’m here.”
The goal isn’t to create another spiritual checklist.
The goal is relationship.
We aren’t spending time with God so we can check a box and say we were a good Christian today.
We’re making room because we need Him.
What Happens When We Slow Down?
When we slow down, we begin to notice things we couldn’t hear when everything was loud.
We may notice what we’ve been carrying.
Also, we may recognize where we’ve been striving.
Possibly, become aware of emotions we’ve pushed aside.
Or, hear a gentle prompting from God.
We may remember something we’ve forgotten.
And sometimes, we simply experience His peace.
That’s part of restoring your heart.
Before we try to change our circumstances, sometimes God wants to meet us right where we are.
He doesn’t need us to have everything together before we come to Him.
We can come tired.
Overwhelmed.
Disappointed.
Joyful.
We can come with questions.
Or, we can come with tears.
We can simply come.
Your Beautiful Life Challenge Today
Today, I want you to create 15 minutes of stillness with God.
Put your phone away.
Find a quiet place.
Take your Bible and your journal.
Then simply sit with Him.
You don’t need to fill every minute with words.
Start by saying:
“Lord, I’m here. What do You want to say to me today?”
Then be quiet.
Listen.
Write down anything that comes to your heart.
And before you get up, write these three things:
How am I feeling?
What am I carrying?
And, what do I need to give to God?
Then surrender it.
You may not walk away with an answer to everything.
That’s okay.
The goal isn’t to leave with a plan to fix your entire life.
The goal is to leave knowing:
God is with me.
He sees me.
He loves me.
And knows me.
And I don’t have to carry this alone.
A Prayer for Today
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for teaching me to be still. Thank you for quieting the noise around me and within me so I can hear You clearly. Show me how to stop striving and start receiving all that you have for me. Thank you for filling the places in me that have become empty from constantly pouring myself out. Thank you for restoring my heart, renewing my strength, and reminding me that You are always with me and that You will never leave me of forsake me. I surrender it all to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
A beautiful life doesn’t begin with doing more.
Sometimes it begins with stopping long enough to let God fill you again.
And know.
Blessings!
Danelle
This came at such a great time for me. I’ve been practicing being still with God daily, taking the time to just stop it all and connect. It’s been very fulfilling. Thanks for this.
I am so happy to hear that this post blessed you! It is so fulfilling just being still with God daily. I am so happy you are practicing this.Thank you for your wonderful comment!
I heard that Chicago public schools teach meditation during detention. I’d love to see the outcomes on the students. I imagine for many, it leads to less detention.
I bet in many ways meditation will benefit all those students along with bringing less detention! Thanks for commenting.