Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

I have been reading and hearing a lot lately that we shouldn't just keep praying to God with many words. Shouldn't just keep sending up our requests, but that we should take the time also to listen, to be still and quiet and listen for his voice.

I have a hard time with this. My mind immediately begins to drift. To what I have to get done. What I need to get at the grocery store. Mundane things.

One time only I decided I was going to sit quietly before the Lord for a half hour. It was very difficult. I will say though, that during that time I had a thought that I can't imagine came from me because I don't see how I would come up with it.

"You let anger stand inside of you." Came out of nowhere and was clear as a bell.

Have had anger issues my whole life. Mostly my poor husband only sees it. But that thought made me look at it a little differently. Like it was something outside of myself that I was letting come into my heart and wreak havoc on my marriage. That revelation has helped me greatly! Over the years of knowing God, and especially since that specific quiet time, anger has been showing up less and less at our door. I am doing a much better job of not letting it in!

But sadly, I have never tried to sit quietly for long again! Just realized that now, how sad.

The other afternoon I was reading my bible and praying in my backyard in my new favorite plastic red adirondack chairs. (I have a very secluded woodsy pretty backyard but have never enjoyed it for lack of a patio. But since I bought my chairs a couple weeks ago it is my new favorite place.)

I was praying through my big book of prayers as I do everyday and felt convicted. You wouldn't do that to a person. Go on and on and on and never stop or give the other person 1 second.

I put down my prayer book and my bible and tried to just clear my mind and be still and know that he is God. Mind was running all over the place. I prayed for God to help me on this issue.

A few hours later a post on an awesome Facebook group, Journey Deeper into God's Word, was about Being Still. And the pastor who runs the group was asking people to share how they do it because its so hard.

From reading the posts and thinking about it further I was encouraged to try again.

The next morning I got up before the sunrise, when its just getting light. I got my coffee and my bible and my notebook and got cozy in my chair and decided I was just gonna lay back and look up and take note of every amazing thing of God's creation. And to keep my mind from wandering I was going to jot them down.

I am just going to share my notes. :)

He made EVERY thing. I look the sky and see he made every song, every cloud, leaf, twig and bird in flight.

Intricate spider webs spun of silk. The soft, hazy morning sky, absorbing color, shifting, changing. Birds silently gliding through its massive expanse as the world gives way to morning.

A symphony of songs rise up from the trees, jubilantly welcoming the dawn.

Thru the trees, the sun glows, sparkles, golden and magnificent. Bright and beautiful, giving light to our eyes, that we may see!

The trees with limbs outstretched, stand at attention, waiting for the golden kiss of the sun.

The sun bursts forth, its golden rays breaking through the horizon, giving dimension and depth and color.

Orange and golden hues to all it touches. Revealing things hidden. Spreading warmth. Casting beauty all about.

Faithfully!

The rejoicing continues from the trees.

All becomes ablaze and beautiful in the light of God's great creation.

What once looked flat now looks rich in depth and variance of color.

New things are revealed and brought to attention. The smallest particles dance in the air.

What looked nice enough before becomes rich in beauty and depth. Golden highlights and deep, rich shadows.

Even with your back completely turned to the sun, the stunning beauty shouts the truth that the sun has risen. (This really spoke to me about the SON too!)

This the THE day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice, and be glad in it. (The birds are! We should be too)

Psalm 50:1 - The Mighty One, God, the LORD,

speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

So awesome! God speaks to me on very different levels through all of these thoughts/observations. I see many connections between what the sun does for the earth and what God does for our souls.

I think it was probably an hour and a half I sat out there. I would read some scripture occasionally. And sing a verse of a song occasionally. It was so precious. I look forward to doing it again!

This reminds me also of a time last summer when I was really struck by a sunrise and jotted down a poem that came out of nowhere. This was it:

Your morning dawn sparkles my soul,
Pale gold shimmers, bursts, thru illuminated leaves.

A soft, silent canopy above whispers, changes,
Absorbing the color of your rising light.

Your promise of renewed life presented in perfection before me,
and I am humbled by your majesty.

As others dream upon their pillows, eyes closed peacefully in sleep,
I am honored to sit before your magnificent display.

I thank You for the sunrise, so beautiful to behold,
This sacred moment with my God, shall echo all day within my soul.

: )