Shelter at home orders have forced us to slow down our busy lives or at least cleared our calendars. I wonder how many of us have have simply exchanged one type of activity for another. Are we learning what it means to be still?
“Be still, and know that I am God;…” (Psalm 46:10) is a very familiar & often quoted verse. But it is also something most of us struggle with. You may not be running between meetings, practices or events right now but how are you with getting your mind to be still? Are you worried about exposure, finances, or wonder what the future is going to look like?
I believe that learning to be still to know God & to know who we are in Him is an essential spiritual discipline. But I don’t believe there is one ‘right’ way to do this. I think there are many. The discipline comes in finding what works for you and continuing to make it a priority. The video below is an awesome post that was shared by Amy Grant that explains & demonstrates one such practice that helps us.
In this time of "shelter at home" stillness for so many of us, I thought I would share a stillness practice that has been helpful to me (unedited) #BeStillAndKnow……
Easter feels very different this year but the reality of the season is just as powerful today as it has been for approximately 2000 years. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. It is our understanding and perspective that changes. May this Easter Sunday be a chance for all of us to refocus in the midst of overwhelming days.
I pray you will find this holiday:
a little quieter so you can hear His voice louder and
a little slower so you have time to be more reflective on the reality of an empty tomb.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” -1 Peter 1:3
Jesus offered up prayers with “loud cries and tears.” (Heb. 5:7)
Have you given yourself permission to do this yet? I’ve learned over the years that stuffing the hard emotions & fears actually allows them to grow and fester. They eventually ooze out in not so nice ways. But, if our God is who He says He is, He can handle your hard feelings. And amazingly, He wants us to bring them to Him. When you finally let go and allow yourself to feel the hard stuff and verbalize those thoughts & feelings to God, He can start to heal you by loving on you & encourage you & reminding you He’s got this!
Listen to Max Lucado speak on granting yourself a good meltdown:
It is the start of a
new week. And the last week has felt
like a month, can I get an Amen?
Ecclesiastes 3 tells
us there is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the
heavens. I propose it is time to switch
from mourning to dancing!
Let’s start a dance party up in here. Post a song below in the comments that get’s you on your feet & moving!
Anybody else feel like it is been an incredibly looooooooooooooooooong week?
Well it’s finally the weekend and it’s time to take a breathe and have some fun. Turn off the news & social feeds. Clean off the kitchen table & dust off your old board games.
