Finding Stillness in a Loud World
Your Nightly Prayer
By Greg Grandchamp
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“Be still, and know that I am God;…” - Psalm 46:10
SOMETHING TO PONDER
We live in an incredibly fast-paced, loud and noisy world. In this life filled with busy schedules and constant interruptions, absolute stillness can seem impossible. If we have families, we seem to be rushing through everything – our tasks, our obligations and distractions. Emails and texts just add to the noise around us.
It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world. In the hustle and bustle of careers, of commitments, of family. The “to-do list of taking care of a home seems to have no end. Even our obligations or volunteer work at church seem to press in on our schedules. Sure, we might break away from it for a time – but it’s a bit like quicksand, isn’t it? We stay too close to the edges, and it sucks us right back in.
Yet, we are invited by God – quite gently – to take time to pause. To appreciate our relationship with Him. To “Be still and know that I am God.” In other words, “quit your striving. I’m here for you!”
This invitation encompasses so much more than simply sitting still. It means deliberately seeking peace – quiet time away from all the distractions – and opening our hearts to God and His presence. Reaching out to Him, while forgetting all that’s going on around us. Simple, right? Yeah – but maybe not easy. But it is in these quiet moments that we can hear – even feel – the gentle whispers of God in our hearts.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul describes the fruit of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us when we are in Christ. “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (5:22-23 ESV) Imagine living and breathing those gifts every day. Imagine the impact on your busy life. Just imagine – when your life remains…chaos, the peace and calm you could experience in your heart.
We need only consider the life of Jesus. He was continuously surrounded by people. Hundreds, even thousands, clamoring for Him to do something for them. Yet, one need only to read the gospels to discover that Jesus was quite intentional about His time alone with God. It was then He would hear the Father. It was then He chose the twelve.
Perhaps, that is our key too. Being intentional. Being purposeful in setting aside time. We make room for God’s work in us, when we step aside from the commotion and step into silence. No cell phones, no television, no spouse, no kids – just us and the Lord. It is important in these moments to remember that to “be still” does not mean the absence of movement. It means to be still in our hearts – to let peace in.
When we make room for quiet time, we are making room for God to work in our hearts. Over time, we may very well find our anxieties are eased, and our faith reinforced. Embracing and honoring that time allows us to realign our lives back to that which is truly above all things – our relationship with our Lord. Over time, we may find a greater sense of serenity that extends beyond our time in His presence and carries over to the balance of our days.
Our stillness will deepen our connection with the Lord in ways we could not have imagined. Our hearts will be renewed. And as we continue to embrace this time – soon we won’t understand how we lived without it. As we quiet our hearts and embrace these moments – and surrender control and place our lives entirely in His hands - our trust in Him will grow, knowing His plans are far better than our own.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father in heaven,
Thank you for your presence and your peace. Thank you for giving me a calm heart during times of chaos. It is only through your presence that I can live at peace despite the commotion around me. Thank you for making me lie down in green pastures and leading me beside quiet and still waters. For restoring my soul.
In the mighty name of Jesus ,I pray.
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. It’s okay to sit quietly before the Lord, even if you don’t have the words to pray at the moment. Just ask Him to be with you.
2. In our weakness, the Holy Spirit is there to help us. We may not know what we ought to pray for, but “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26)
3. As we go through our day, sometimes we may need to take a deep breath, and remember the feelings in our hearts during our “still” moments.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Farid Askerov
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.
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