By Jackie Chasteen
I just love Psalms 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
"Be still, and know that I am God," our heavenly Father urges. Easier said than done, right? I dont know about you but I'm just dying for a little peace and quiet - a chance to relax and to think and to pray, but somehow I just cant seem to manage it.
Stillness is not a word that I even use anymore, let alone experiece. Yet I know that in this day and time that we live in most women deserately need the spirit of stillness. We are constantly on the move, stretched to our maximum by all the hats we wear, all the balls we juggle, and all the demands our lives bring.
In order for the spirit of loveliness to live in us, we must seek out opportunities to rest, plan, regroup, and draw closer to God. We do that when we deliberately cultivate the spirit of stillness in our homes and in our lives. As I write these words, I'm sitting in my yard enjoying God,s beauty all around me. I gaze out over my property, a deep sense of peace descends upon me. I've just spent two day of somewhat rest, reading and enjoying my family. Now I'm alone. All the conversations have quieted, and I can almost feel my bones relaxing as the spirit of stillness steals over me.
I would say the ideal balance between outward and inward pursuits should be about 50/50. By "outward" I mean working toward goals and deadlines, negotiating needs and privileges, coping with stress, taking care of daily chores - getting things done. "Inward" things include turning on to my spiritual self, talking to God, exploring the sorrows, hopes, and dreams that make up the inner me, and just relaxing in Gods eternal presence.
When I was younger, my life tilted more outward and less inward. As I grow and mature (and perhaps reach another stage of my life) , I find I'm leaning more towards the inward. I want my life to be geared more towards heaven. I want to lift my life, my hands, my head, and my body toward God, to spend more time alone with Him. Talking, listening and just being. I want to experience the fragrance of His love and let that love permeate my life. I want those things for you, too. That is why I urge you: Do whatever is necessary to nuture the spirit of stillness in your life.
The door to stillness really is there waiting for any of us to open it and go through, but it won't open by itself. We have to choose to make the spirit of stillness part of our lives. God bless!
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