Be Still

Do you ever feel like you're always running around like a chicken with it's head cut off? No sense of direction or order in your daily life--just scurrying around trying to get all the things done that you keep adding to your plate?

I've had days like that. Days where I'm struggling to get everything accomplished on my list and by the end of the day, it seems like nothing really got done. And that's just at work. By the time I get home, I'm ready to just sit and let my brain slow down. But sometimes that doesn't always happen. The list then grows with all the responsiblities waiting for me to take care of at home.

I was talking to one of my co-workers the other day at work as we tried to finish our work load before closing time. I asked her if she had seen any good movies lately, and she began to tell me all the reasons why she just doesn't have the time anymore to sit back and relax and rent a good chick-flick. Her list seemed so unending! And many of the things that she's put on her plate to do throughout the week, aren't things that are direly important.

So what does the Lord say about that?

Here's a story I came across in my daily Bible reading. It's a story in Luke that I know all of us can relate to:

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Though my coworker has chosen to do many kind and thoughtful things to help others, at the same time, these things have become such a priority that just sitting and being still before the Lord has been bumped down the list. And that's what He says is most important for us to do!

I am just as guilty as my coworker. All the things that the world says I should put as a priortity on my list---should be last on my list. He above all should be first. For it is He who has blessed us; who was tortured and killed for us, and then conquered death so that we can have eternal life. He deserves our undivided attention.

Many times, when I've been consumed with worry or busyness--the Lord answers my cries for help with, "Be still, and know that I am God." Obviously being still before Him is important for our sanity and our relationship with not only Him, but with those surrounding us. Being still before Him, helps put our focus on what is most important. In those times, He gives us peace in exchange for all those worries and burdens. And when we have His peace, then we can better handle what's on our plate in a more peaceable and orderly manner.

God knows all about our responsiblities and work. But He also knows about how important rest is, not only for our physical health, but for our emotional and spiritual health as well. Did He not take the 7th day off for resting after creating the earth and everything on it?

So if you've been really struggling with your schedule and all the projects and things you've taken on, I encourage you to just stop for a moment, wherever you are right now--and be still before the Lord. Spend some time in His prescence. Listen to Him, ask for His peace and direction as to what you can do without in your busy life that you've deemed important, but in reality, is not.

Here're some verses to think about when life gets busy:

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters..." Psalm 23:2

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently before Him; do not fret when men exceed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

"You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them." Psalm 89:9

"Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife." Proverbs 17:1

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." Isaiah 32:17

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because He has roused himself from His holy dwelling." Zechariah 2:13

"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." Mark 4:39

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:2

"Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4

Hope you find those verses helpful! Have a very peaceful week and God bless!

Love in Christ Jesus,
Alyssa