Do you remember when, as a child, you were told to sit still when it seemed like there so were so many ants in your pants?  Learning to be still in our world can be like catching the wind!

For the last two years, my theme words have been, BE STILL.  Yep, I needed to work on it again this year.  I find it hard to be still.  It isn’t so much physically being still, which I do find hard to do, but working on being still in my spirit.

When life’s arrows are being shot every which way and life is demanding  being still can take a back seat many times. I have a card seating on my window ledge in my office that says, BE STILL.  I want to see it often making me stop to breathe and ask God to still me.  Do you find that?

It’s not only trying to be still, but to do as the rest of the verse says  below.

“Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a (NIV). The Contemporary English Version puts it this way, “Our God says, Calm down, and learn that I am God.”

Every day, week, month and even years I need to claim that verse. It may seem funny to say that being still is an action word, but it is. It is a conscious effort to stop and work at being calm.  It is also an action word to know and learn who God is.  When we understand how awesome, how powerful, and how loving He is, we can begin to calm down and be still.

Life circumstances may or may not change, but for sure God never changes. We can rest in the fact that we need to trust Him.

This past year, my one daughter moved overseas to work and travel. There was times I found it hard to be calm, especially when she was pick- pocketed in a country with a different language. My other daughter and her husband did some traveling this year overseas as well. I told them I was giving them a crocheting hook and yarn and they need to do that for excitement instead of all this travelling.  Ha ha

I know of many others who are going through a separation or marriage break up.  I know of those that are standing by their spouse’s palliative bed wondering when their loved one will leave this earth. Others are heavy heart-ed with children who are living a life not up to their potential.  Some children don’t have faith in Jesus and parents long for the day when their children will see how important they need Jesus in their life. Others are in dire need of financial needs met.

It is tough to BE STILL and  trust  God. You know, nothing gets passed Him. We just have to keep taking His promises, pray, and learn more and more about God. He will help us be still. I have found just finding a quiet spot to pray and talk to God has been a wonderful comfort for me. This was one of my spots. Maybe you have a place you go to be still.  A favourite chair, a walk in the park, a drive or a quiet place in your home. (if you have small kids it may mean your locked bathroom door!)

Jesus and his disciples were out in the boat when a terrible storm came up. The disciples were terrified and felt they were going to drown.  Jesus had it all under control.

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be Still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:39 (NIV)

Let’s allow Jesus to take our storms of life and work on these two words, BE STILL.  Know that God asks us to BE STILL and is waiting to hear from you. He has wonderful things to teach us.

OPEN YOUR TOOL BOX:

• Feeling like it is hard to breathe? Its OK, you are normal
• Ask God to help you breathe and be still before Him
• Talk to Him about your storms of life
• Be still and learn who God is each step of the way
• Memorize Isaiah 46:10

YOU CAN DO THIS.  YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT!