Loud noise permeated the air. “There goes the ball!” roared the TV commentator. Blasting music accompanied her daughter loudly singing, “I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain” 1 CLACK! CLACK! collided pirate swords as the boys shouted, “I’ll get you matey!” WOOF! WOOF! howled the chasing dog. “Aggghh!” groaned Jenny, “There’s too much noise!”
Jenny slipped out the door into the stillness of her garden. Breathing in the blossoms’ fragrant scents she immediately relaxed. Slowly she walked down the path admiring the vivid foliage and watching the butterflies dance among the blooms.
Settling down on the bench, she prayed, “Thank you Lord for all our blessings.” Laughing, she said, “And yes, Lord, I even thank You for my noisy family.” Sitting still before the Lord, she was enveloped in His peace.
ESCAPE!
Do you have a rambunctious household or a noisy work environment? Most of us have a quiet spot like Jenny’s garden to escape those types of noise. But there is another noise that is harder to escape; our noisy thoughts.
When we are bombarded with world news of chaos and violence, hurricane devastation and the elections, fear explodes like noisy rockets in our thoughts. What can we do to escape our noisy thoughts? We can be still.
BE STILL!
THERE IS TOO MUCH TO DO!
Are you thinking, if we are still, how can we accomplish anything? As crazy as being still may sound, it may actually help us to accomplish more. It’s proven that being still helps us:
Develop new ideas
Reduce stress
Improve sleep.1
Won’t those things help us to accomplish more?
As we frantically rush to accomplish our next task or meet our next obligation, noisy, stressful thoughts of what’s next pings in our minds. What if we knew we would accomplish everything that is important for that day?
Wouldn’t that eliminate the noise?
By allowing our loving Lord to guide our day, we can accomplish what is important. In fact, I have found when He makes my “to do” list, I get more done than when I make it myself!
Accomplishments aside, the Lord directs us to be still.
Be still, and know that I am God,
Psalm 46:10a.
Why? Because our loving Lord knows our minds and bodies need to escape the noise in order to find peace. Even Jesus took time to be still,
And rising very early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
He departed and went out to a desolate place,
and there he prayed.
Mark 1:35
HOW DO WE BE STILL?
Being still doesn’t mean we have to take hours and sit still. Although, a little inactivity is beneficial. We can be still anytime, anywhere, even when we don’t have a garden like Jenny to escape into.
COUNT TO TEN
When conflicts arise and negative remarks ensue, what pops out of our mouths? Usually nothing good. However, we can be still by hitting pause and practicing the old adage “count to ten” before we respond. Counting to ten will give us a moment to escape the noise of negative thoughts. In the stillness of the moment, we can pray and hear how the Lord wants us to respond. Wouldn’t that avoid a lot of need for forgiveness?
Know this, my dear brothers and sisters:
let every person be quick to listen,
slow to speak, and slow to anger[,
James 1:19 TLV
STOP & SMELL THE ROSES
Doesn’t that mean to simply slow down, enjoy life noticing and appreciating what is around us? Rather than focusing on negative incidents, we can be still by literally stopping and smelling the roses, listening to birds sing or watching children play. Slowing down enough to be still, notice what’s around us and thanking the Lord for it, quiets our noisy negative thoughts.
Giving thanks always for all things
to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 5:20
WHICH WAY?
Wondering “what will happen if” produces noisy anxious thoughts that affect our decisions about which way our path should go. When we have faith to be still, perhaps the Lord will confirm our current path. Wouldn’t that be encouraging? Perhaps by being still He will lovingly redirect us onto a better path. Perhaps He will reveal to us what’s worth keeping and what is better to let go.
This is a time when a momentary stillness is best stretched to many moments with the Lord. We may not all have a garden like Jenny, but finding a quiet place to be still and listen to the Lord is an investment that will flourish.
But when you pray, go into your room,
close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret,
will reward you,
Matthew 6:6
WHENEVER WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH NOISY THOUGHTS,
LET’S BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD
AND FIND HIS PEACE.
REFLECTION
Are you bombarded with noisy thoughts?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Psalm 46:10 and say it aloud, quiet my thoughts. Help me to be still before you. In Jesus name. Amen.
IN FAITH, BE STILL BEFORE GOD.
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
1 psychologytoday.com
Photo bench, Alexey Savchenko
Photo roses, Kristin71
Photo list, my profit tudor
Photo moose, Olli
