Why do we resist stillness with God? A question we talked about at the “Be Still” conference last weekend. A question I wrote for the small group discussions. A question I thought I’d addressed in my own life as I’ve focused on incorporating stillness and prayer into the rhythm of my life. Yet, just days after returning from a weekend focused on finding stillness with God, I found myself reluctant to enter into the stillness I’ve come to love and crave.
What are your reasons for not carving out time to be still with God?
“I’m too busy.”
This used to be my go-to excuse, but I found I got too run down and worn thin if I didn’t take the time for stillness. I had plenty of time this week, yet still couldn’t bring myself to enter that sacred space.
“I don’t know how to be still. It’s hard to be quiet for very long.”
The first time I tried to sit in silence for 15 minutes, the only thing I wrote in my journal was, “wow, that was hard!” It can be hard to be still and takes some practice to find the right methods that work for you. I’ve discovered favorite ways to be still with God, yet something was holding me back from even these.
So, neither of these top reasons were my excuse this week. Instead, it was…
“I’m not ready to open my heart and listen.”
Oooh… I wasn’t expecting this one. I finally realized my excuse this week was I had some tough questions weighing on my heart and I wasn’t ready to hear His answers.
Spending time in stillness with God is intimate and vulnerable. Stillness is lowering your walls and letting God into the deep reaches of your soul. He’s already there, you know, but in the stillness you acknowledge and welcome His presence.
So, I finally took time to be still with God. I was beyond the point of needing this, beyond needing a refilling of His grace and love, His energy. I chose one of my favorite methods of spending time with God – a long, hot bath. In the dark, candlelit room, floating in the tub, I’m usually able to relax into His arms and still myself to listen.
As I listened to my Pandora “Praise and Worship” radio, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol came on. An unexpected song choice for this station, but it spoke to me in a surprising way.
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
God, if I just lay here in this tub, will you lie with me and help me forget the world and just focus on you?
I don’t quite know How to say
How I feel
The Surprising Reason I Resisted Stillness – Prayer & Possibilities
Why do we resist stillness with God? A question we talked about at the “Be Still” conference last weekend. A question I wrote for the small group discussions. A question I thought I’d addressed in my own life as I’ve focused on incorporating stillness and prayer into the rhythm of my life. Yet, just days after returning from a weekend focused on finding stillness with God, I found myself reluctant to enter into the stillness I’ve come to love and crave.
What are your reasons for not carving out time to be still with God?
“I’m too busy.”
This used to be my go-to excuse, but I found I got too run down and worn thin if I didn’t take the time for stillness. I had plenty of time this week, yet still couldn’t bring myself to enter that sacred space.
“I don’t know how to be still. It’s hard to be quiet for very long.”
The first time I tried to sit in silence for 15 minutes, the only thing I wrote in my journal was, “wow, that was hard!” It can be hard to be still and takes some practice to find the right methods that work for you. I’ve discovered favorite ways to be still with God, yet something was holding me back from even these.
So, neither of these top reasons were my excuse this week. Instead, it was…
“I’m not ready to open my heart and listen.”
Oooh… I wasn’t expecting this one. I finally realized my excuse this week was I had some tough questions weighing on my heart and I wasn’t ready to hear His answers.
Spending time in stillness with God is intimate and vulnerable. Stillness is lowering your walls and letting God into the deep reaches of your soul. He’s already there, you know, but in the stillness you acknowledge and welcome His presence.
So, I finally took time to be still with God. I was beyond the point of needing this, beyond needing a refilling of His grace and love, His energy. I chose one of my favorite methods of spending time with God – a long, hot bath. In the dark, candlelit room, floating in the tub, I’m usually able to relax into His arms and still myself to listen.
As I listened to my Pandora “Praise and Worship” radio, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol came on. An unexpected song choice for this station, but it spoke to me in a surprising way.
God, if I just lay here in this tub, will you lie with me and help me forget the world and just focus on you?