The Need to be Still

In my last post I spoke about the need to be productive. Now I would like to briefly consider our deeper need to be still.

It’s not that we don’t have a calling and purpose in this life that ought to be diligently and intentionally pursued, but rather that being still is the greatest thing we can “do” in this life to prepare us for life and eternity and to empower us to make our lives count for something.

When we are constantly busy and working, we will find ourselves continuously drawing from our own strength, our own wisdom, our own experiences and therefore our own limitations. To draw from ourselves as the source of what we need is a frustrating and ultimately fruitless prospect. We are limited at our best; at our worst we are corrupted, double minded and selfish; neither our best or our worst is  the well we ought to be drawing from for inspiration, fulfillment and empowerment. This is where being still comes into play.

On a regular basis (every day even!) we need to draw from another well. A well that will not run dry. A well that is overflowing with springs of eternal life, power, wisdom, love, peace and possibility. This is the well of God’s Holy Spirit. He is the living water. He is able to make all things abound to us. He is able to make His living water fill us up and overflow into the everyday aspects of our life.

As we wait in His presence and learn to be still before Him, we will find that we are recharged, refilled and revived. Then when we begin to work daily from and for His glory and we will have the supply necessary to make it happen. We have an inherent need to be still and to rest. This is a lot more than hitting the snooze button, taking a nap or getting away for a little “R&R” but rather it means taking a Bible and a journal and going to God in quietness, trust and rest. Recognize that God is speaking and we simply need to listen.

Waiting in God’s presence will cost us something. Not only the time and effort to seek Him and listen for His voice but also the obedience that needs to follow and the humbling of ourselves in order to obey; but trust me, it is not only worth it, it is the best way to live and the only truly fulfilling thing we can “do” with our lives. So grab your Bibles a journal and a pen and come let us sit a while at the feet of Jesus, and see what He says to us.