Stillness


He leads me beside still waters. …. He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:2-3


Have you realised how difficult it is to be really still inwardly? Today I have set aside extra time to spend with God because I have been ‘on the run’ with guests which was great fun, but now that the house is quiet I need to re-group. I need the stillness that will stop my brain from running 100 miles an hour, mulling over the list of ‘things to do’ before I leave home for 10 days. How long does one have to sit quiet before one’s soul actually finds that quiet place? I once heard an international speaker say that when she goes to spend time with God at her cabin on the lake it takes her 3 days to quieten her mind so that she can hear from God. I can believe her!

Stillness is something that our world is very short of today. We are helped to be kept busy every waking moment. Even the children are over-stimulated constantly by television, computer games, after school activities many times a week, not to mention lots of homework for even little ones. That used to be something that only came with going to high school! How do the children ever learn to be still I wonder?

Taking time with God will bring the stillness we need for a healthy life. Not just a quick read through a daily devotional and a perfunctory “bless me, bless them” prayer, but really taking time to allow God’s stillness to permeate our innermost being and so restore our soul. To make this a regular discipline is to invest in your own life. Each time you do this you make a deposit into your spirit and you become “strengthened with His might in your inner man”. Ephesians 3:16. Overcome peer pressure to be ‘busy’ with things and get in touch with stillness. It will restore your soul. There is a beautiful verse in the Old Testament…. The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says this, “ONLY in returning to me and waiting for me you will be saved. In quietness and in confidence is your strength”. Isaiah 30:15.

Prayer:
In the stillness Lord, it’s good to sit
Your presence feel, your love to know
Your hand on my head in blessing and power
Lord guide my thoughts this morning hour
I need you so. JS 1983