“Be still, and know that I am God!” – Psalm 46:10a
I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time being still.
It’s safe to say I’m a bit of a workaholic. During the week I’m taking care of my family, the house, writing, attempting to grow my business, preparing Sunday School lessons, and helping in other church ministries.
I need my weekends to rest.
This past weekend was incredible. I spent Saturday with many Christian women for the annual RENEW conference at my church. The speaker, Michele Pillar was amazing. Sunday morning I spent time with my fifth and sixth graders in Sunday School. After that, my team launched our new ministry, Safe Families for Children. I had many great conversations showing that God is at work. Then my team went out to lunch to fellowship. That night, I went out with my brother for his birthday for dinner and to see Matthew West and Jeremy Camp. It was an amazing night of worship.
I thought I’d never come down from the spiritual high. But…Monday always comes.
If you’re anything like me, you have a checklist a mile long and not enough hours in the day. So, when you have a weekend like I did, even though it was fantastic, starting your week exhausted is not ideal.
So, I’m sitting there thinking… I get up in the morning and pray first thing. I do devotions each morning. I renewed and replenished my spirit like nobody’s business over the past two days. Why am I so spiritually zapped?
Then God hit me with the verse I know and like to avoid…”Be still and know that I am God.”
So…today I decided to do something different. I decided to meditate.
Not that clear-your-mind stuff. That always reminds me of my nephew when he was little. We were talking about meditation and what a bad idea it is to clear your mind and he commented that all the local demons would be like, “Hey! An empty parking lot. Let’s play here!”
I love that image. I’m a full believer in demonic possession since there are cases of it in the Bible…and I believe I’ve seen demon possessed people myself. So, I don’t mess with anything I think a demon might be enticed by, such as a clear mind…even though I don’t believe a demon can possess a soul that houses the Holy Spirit…but I digress.
The point of Biblical meditation is to FILL your mind with the right things. Scripture, who God is…
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4-8
I decided to try it this morning. I waited until no one was home, sat on the floor and focused on being still and knowing that God is God.
It was strange at first. But I found my mind starting to break it apart.
BE STILL – I began thinking about what that really meant. To sit quietly. To just stop. To sit in God’s presence.
KNOW – Don’t question. Don’t second-guess. Trust.
GOD IS GOD – I’m not. I’m not in control, nor do I really want to be. Then I began thinking about who God is and how blessed I am.
Today is just day one. I’m going to attempt to do this every day. It’s tough. We’re all busy. Especially moms with little ones. But we can find a way.
Susanna Wesley, mother of well-known evangelists, John and Charles, had nineteen children. Many died in infancy, but that’s still a lot of kids. She spent two hours each day in prayer and alone time with God by sitting and flipping her apron over her head. When her face was covered, the kids weren’t allowed to bother her.
Susanna is an amazing, awe-inspiring woman. Two hours a day! I had a hard time spending fifteen minutes. But…I’m going to keep going and see what happens. Somehow, I believe God will honor my attempts. Afterall, the Bible is clear that we should meditate:
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” – Joshua 1:8
“But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.” – Psalm 1:2
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
I could go on. But you get the idea. Who’s with me? Anyone else want to attempt to take some time out of your day to meditate on God’s word? To be still and know that He is God?
You are loved,
J F Rogers