Wednesday, October 19, 2011

"Dance!" Woman's T-Shirt

Be Still

Yesterday I was reading a short devotional that had to do with "being still".  The Scripture verse it cited was Psalm 46:10(a) - "Be still, and know that I am God ...".

As a grandma now I find it easier and easier to "be still" ... physically, anyway.  Some days it seems that's about all I can do - be still.  The aches and pains force me to be still.  My brain thinks of all kinds of reasons NOT to be still; my body, with its lack of energy, thinks otherwise.  The recliner is always there beckoning me to plop down and be still. 

There was a time, when our four children were growing up, when I couldn't give in all that often to any aches and pains.  Mothers of children-at-home need to keep moving; keep doing. Physically AND mentally. They just have to keep pushing on no matter how they feel.  All mothers know this.  "Being still" was too often such a  huge stretch of the imagination - I couldn't take it seriously. There was no time to "be still".  Really, God, could You have been joking?

But as hard as it can be for some to slow down and "be still" physically it is, for me anyway, even harder to "be still" mentally and spiritually.  I might well give in to that recliner ... stretch out ... relieving some pain ... be still physically  but, once I am there, my mind will more than likely be racing all over the place. 

I find it hard to keep my mind "still", to not be thinking constantly of one thing or another. "Be still, and know that I am God", says God.  Okay, I hear You but ...  could You sort of help me out here?  Turn the brain waves down or something?  Maybe block out all those "what'll I fix for supper - I've got to call ... I need to take the clothes out of the dryer - gotta finish reading that book - better call the kids, etc." thoughts?

It's so HARD, God, to BE STILL and "know" You.  Being still ... having a calm, blank mind seems so simple.  It isn't.  Is that why You put that in Your Book, God?   Because You already knew how we humans would be racing through life in both body AND mind/spirit?  You already knew we'd NEED to be reminded to slow down; to be still?  Because You knew all along that we busy, busy, busy people would  HAVE to be told: "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD ..."?

Certainly in this day and time we need reminded to do just that.  "Be still and know that I am God".  Yes.  Be still.  We NEED to be still.  We NEED to know that God is God.  We NEED to be still and know that God is God and be still so we can hear what He has to tell us.

God knew, and knows, that we NEED to do this.  He knows that our "being still" is just as important to us as breathing the air - we NEED it.  We NEED to know Him.  We NEED to hear Him.  We NEED to know where He's leading us.

Though I do find it difficult, my prayer is that I will be able, more and more, to "be still" and know God - know Him better and better and better.  How about you?