Learn to Be Still
There’s a not so old Eagles song, Learn to be Still (written by Henley & Lynch — see lyrics), that “keeps ringing in my head” this morning. Yesterday was one of those days — breakfast meeting at 7:00 and got home after 10:30 evening meeting. The emotionally exhausting day, full of concern for God’s precious and hurting people, has left me depleted this morning.
Rather than concentrating and doing the hard work of study, prayer, and thinking, I’m having to fight to keep myself on track today. I want to run and do a frenzy of little, time consuming jobs that will give me a feeling of accomplishment, but leave the important work of submitting and listening for God’s message, a message I’m suppose to share with His people.
Having ideas and a focus in Scripture isn’t the problem for either message. No, the problem is that I have too many shallow ideas and too many possibilities of messages. Which of these is really from God for my people, this week? Which ones are only titillating distractions that further inoculate God’s people from hearing His clear call to the Cross and to follow Christ?
I guess I need to listen this time, the voice that “keeps ringing in my head” and learn to be still.
What do you do and where do you go to quiet your spirit and learn to be still and hear the voice of our Abba Father?
We all have days when we feel more like running when things are not in our control.
I know we are to be still and wait for God to guide us but we some times get inpatient so try to do many things in a day to distract from what ever answers we are waiting for. It may help for a short while .
I remember This Verse
Be still and know that I am God .
Just have to remind my self to do it.
Betty R Aikens
20 May 08 at 11:21 am
I pray that God will continue to fill you with his Spirit, Phil, so that you will be overflowing with his healing love as you minister to those who are hurting.
Lately I have been concentrating upon hearing the voice of God. He always knows what is best for his work and for our lives, but I have to admit that I have a tendency to wish he would just hurry up and tell me what to do!
Jesus always went to the garden for a private time of communion with His Father. He realized the necessity of filling himself up with spiritual food and drink before ministering to others. There is something special about getting away from hectic activity and focusing on God in the midst of growing things like flowers, trees, and birds.
When I was a child I loved to ride my bicycle down a dirt road through the countryside early in the cool air on a summer morning. Starting just before sunrise, before most other people were up, it felt like just me and God. The rising sun would shoot rays across salmon colored clouds edged in gold, backed by a blue sky. Birds were singing and flying, and not to be left out of creation’s ardor, thankful praise for my father overflowed from my heart as well.
God’s will for my life is not always as crystal clear as I might prefer, but focusing on the beauty of his creation brings peace and hope for the future. It nourishes me so that I can be more prepared for what He has in store. Our Father knows every bird, every tree, every flower, and I know he cares for me and his people.
Jerita
20 May 08 at 2:06 pm
For myself I have come to understand that it isn’t as important, as to where I go, as it is, how I’m going or getting there. I’ve come to realize there are two modes that this human being operates in. Either the self mode or the spiritual mode. Just saying and trying to operate and walk in spirit doesn’t always do it. I often find myself slipping back into the self mode without realizing I have. It’s only when I’ve become unsettled, unsure, or confused about which path to take, that I realize I’m in the self mode again…I think the agitation or unsettling feeling is the spirit struggling with self trying to keep or assume control. We may hear, sometimes over and over again, our Fathers voice ringing in our head telling us what He would have us do but self is constantly interrupting with other ideas…For myself, I have to recognize that familiar unsettling feeling, literally say “stop for a moment” to self and turn the spiritual ears back on. I find when all quiets down I get, either a conformation of some idea I’ve been kicking around, or a repeat of the same thought He’s been trying to get me to listen to, or message He now has for me…
Thank you for sharing that you find it difficult sometimes, as well. It’s reassurring to a lot of us to know that we’re not alone with this difficulty…
David
21 May 08 at 9:00 pm
I’ve found that the best place for me to “be still” is actually when I’m moving. Let me explain, all day long I’m bombarded with noise, people, sounds of phones ringing, etc. But when I’m walking at the park on the trail (without my phone) I am alone and I can think and pray in peace. Also when I’m running errands and in the car by myself, I turn the radio off and pray and think. I keep a Bible in my car and if I’m caught waiting for one of the boys or even in traffic, I have a way to meditate there. Bless you Phil, for all you do. Try to slow down a little and smell the roses!
Teresa
22 May 08 at 9:39 am
I don’t know if this is even plausible for you, but I wish I’d learned to do it before I completely ruined my health to the point that I had to stop everything and learn to do it. Only 15 minutes a day is a small investment in our well-being.
Take time to breathe – inhale on the count of 3, hold 4, and exhale on the count of 8; repeat 4 times.
After that clear your mind perhapse 1 second (that’s all one can think of absolutly nothing).
Then think of a place in your past where you found happiness and safeness, or a place you’d like to visit, and just spend a litle while there, not hurrying to come back to the present – you will come back when you are ready, knowing that you can go back for a visit again tomorrow, or if you’re fortunate, later today.
Even 15 minutes sounds like a lot of time to take from a day like yours, but if you could do it, it will help your mind to be more rested, and it can function more easily.
You may already do something like this, but you have a special place in our prayers, because we are conceerned about the amount of time you spend working without enough time away from it.
a friend
22 May 08 at 11:42 pm
Today is as it should be … pray … obey.
Kelly
23 May 08 at 8:07 am
I have had this experience also, of waiting to hear from God. Sometimes all the little jobs that need to get done weigh on my mind. They are small, but not totally unnecessary. Focusing on that to the point of distraction, but doing nothing about it, is self-defeating. I have learned that one of the habits of highly effective people is to make a list of things to accomplish, or goals. I do this weekly with little things, and monthly with larger projects. I can often finish one or two small tasks, and feeling relieved, can now sit down and listen to God with peace.
Also, doing a given task does not necessarily keep me from speaking to and listening to God. Often enlightenment comes as I work, and reflect on whatever memories God brings to me. He reveals things in those moments when I am not trying so hard.
Kathy
25 May 08 at 5:30 am
Some of my best times with God are when I am working with my hands. That includes mowing grass, pulling weeds, or painting. My everyday job consists of sitting in an office all day, one with a great view, but I almost never have the time to stop and look out the window! And it’s so hard to stop all the calls, emails and knocks on the door when I close it, that the time at work almost seems like a waste for God.
That’s why I enjoy those times when I can “think” and not worry about all of life’s intrusions into my thoughts. I think that is why Paul mentions “working with your hands” three separate times in the NT. It’s good to free up your mind to think on the things that REALLY matter!
ProdigalKnot
10 Jun 08 at 9:33 am
http://www.the-beat.co.uk/corey-mesler/
Gothic Bitch
7 Jul 10 at 12:51 am