To-Do: Be Still
Dawn traces her shining fingers across my face and my mind is racing before I can pause to take it in. My to-do list is made up of a thousand to-dos, should-dos, need-to-dos…
I need to pay that bill.
I need to create a meal plan.
I need to plan better in general.
I need to be more organized.
I need to fold the laundry.
I need to be…
I need to be still.
I need to be in His presence.
Why is it so hard to practice being? Why do I always convert to doing?
This is my struggle: I think that in order to BE More I have to DO More.
God says I am already who I am meant to be. God says His creation is complete. God says “It is good” and He is talking about me. God says I am already everything I ever need to be.
God says to BE still and KNOW Him.
It’s in the stillness that the greatest work gets done. The DOing is best practiced in the KNOWing. Be still and know, be STILL and know, BE still and KNOW.
Be still and know it’s already done.
Be still and know there’s nothing more I need.
Be still and know His love is enough.
Be still and know I am made perfect in Him.
Be still and know His strength is greater than my weakness.
Be still and know it is finished.
How much different would my life be if I lived it in stillness and knowing? How much more patient could I be with the people in my life if I lived being still instead of being hurried? How much more peace could I have about bills and menu planning and everything if I lived knowing that it really is all going to work out?
God wants me here in this place. Here in His stillness. The place where He is known. The place where I am His beloved.
Be Still and Know.
Beloved, just Be Loved.
This is something I am constantly asking The Lord to help me with! I feel like a hamster running on a wheel most of the time going, going, goung, and then I eventually completely burn out! My soul feels so thirsty for God. Thank you for the reminder to be still! It truly is the most important thing on our “lists”!
Yes! Exactly like a hamster on a wheel, running fast and getting nowhere. It’s not just exhausting, it’s frustrating! We’re taught from when we’re very young that working hard is how we achieve success. But God’s way is different than ours. I’m learning, slowly learning, that I get further faster when I move in Him.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:29-30
Whatever your current situation, Heather, I think you’ve grown closer to God than you think. When you take a moment to pause I bet you find Him sitting right there beside you. Peace to you, friend.
Oh this is sooooo hard to do. It is hard to just sit and be, hard to sit and let go. God doesn’t always move at the pace I prefer (thankfully) and it is hard to let my expectations go and rest in his direction. As Heather says above, it leads to burn out. Be Still and Know that I am God – powerful words that are so easy to glaze over and not pay attention too. Sometimes Being Still is the best action you can take.
Marta you remind me how far I still have to go. Being still is one thing, letting go is something else. I have a habit of holding on tightly to my plans and my agenda, even when I’m sitting still. But you are right, to really be still in Him I have to surrender my will. Thank you for your thoughts today, you have given me much more to think about. <3