by This July we set aside a time of prayer and fasting for the second half of the year in our women’s group at church. It has been a few months since I had an extended time of doing that. It was interesting to observe how my mind took time to settle down and listen to the Holy Spirit.
The first few days were hilarious. I would sit in my quiet place, have my time for prayer and praising God without a hitch. However when it came to sitting in silence and meditating on God’s Word and letting the Holy Spirit speak, I found my mind in all sorts of places, filling out to do lists that normally would not come to mind. All of a sudden, this extended time looked like a waste of opportunity to get up and busy! Where to and what exactly remain a mystery. Thankfully, after a few days of struggling with having ‘extra’ time, I was able to rid my mind of distractions and wait on God by asking Him to help me settle.
To be still is not easy. Especially in this time when being on the go is a fad, looking busy is the preferred image and having a diary filled with appointments is treasured. We are on the go, go, go!
Sometimes we neglect our physical health, mental wellness, relationships and spiritual wellbeing because we are busy chasing ideals and standards set by society. Many of us do not stop to appreciate and enjoy our blessings, to see God’s beautiful handprint in nature or walk away from the hustle and bustle to seek solitude in the Master’s presence. Even as believers, we tend to develop rough edges and a hardness of perspective when we do not take time to be still and gaze on the beauty of the Lord.
Instead of mirroring our savior as we pass through the seasons of life, we mirror the world in our response to life. Our position in relation to our intimacy with God influences our perceptions. Jesus the son of God, did not take His time with God lightly. It was His highest priority while on earth, to draw away from the disciples and the crowds to spend time with His Father. And when He came out of His quiet place, refreshed and strengthened, He did awesome wonders to the glory of God!
Sometimes we take many things for granted; our lives, our talents, the opportunities we get, our spouses, children, ministries, fellowships, careers, wealth, health, the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us and many other facets of life. We assume that because God has blessed us with these then they will automatically work themselves out. We go out in our own strength and may do great things but soon and increasingly often, to our glory. It is only when tragedy strikes and we are stopped in our tracks that all of a sudden, there’s time to seek God fervently and desire His presence earnestly. We don’t have to wait for defining moments in our lives to earnestly seek the presence of God and be still.
We can be as intentional as Jesus was while on earth. He woke up before dawn, He stole away when He saw the opportunity to. When you are still before Him, what happens? Your awareness of His awesome and Mighty presence increases. When you are aware of Him, it is easy to rejoice always; your soul yearns for Him and praise is birthed from the depths of your spirit. When you are still in His presence you see His protection and provision over you and for you in ways that you hadn’t noticed before.
When you are still in His presence, He makes known to you His will concerning your life and strengthens you to accomplish it. And because you trust Him, you go out and do mighty exploits to His glory. And when the storms of life and winds of trouble stir, as they will sometimes, you are not easily shaken for you are rooted on the firm foundation. After all, you know resolutely that He is God, who holds you.
Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere.
(Psalms 46:10-11, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 73:28)
