Have you ever finished a quiet time with God that was anything but quiet?
Do you ever struggle to make yourself completely still before Him?
If so, I’m guessing it’s not because of the kids or the neighbor’s dog (although there’s sometimes that) — but because of the noise inside your head.
The inner clamor from social media, bills, errands, summer camp, breaking news, prayer requests, meal planning, and that mental chatterbox that WON’T STOP TALKING. It’s exhausting!
(You know what I’m talking about, right? Tell me I’m not the only one here.)
Sadly, when it comes to spending time with Jesus, sometimes our bodies sit still but our minds keep racing. The internal commotion whips us into a frenzy that makes it hard to listen to His still, small voice.
But why should we pursue stillness, anyway?
Psalm 46 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”
When we still and quiet our hearts, we position ourselves to hear the Lord’s voice through His Holy Spirit.
Stillness is actually a spiritual discipline.
“The trouble with nearly everybody that prays is that he says ‘Amen’ and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him our ideas.” ~ Frank Lauboch
We often listen through reading Scripture, but we can also listen by quieting our hearts and minds in the midst of busyness.
I recently read a quote that said,
“Learning to be quiet before the Lord is one of the greatest challenges we face today in our quest to enter in and experience true intimacy with God” (James Goll).
Wow. I believe it.
So how do we do that?
Today’s creative devotion idea will give you a practical step-by-step guide to crash the chatterbox and begin cultivating stillness in your life.
Steps to Quieting Your Heart
- Start with a hymn or song of worship to orient your heart toward who God is, and remind yourself of His attributes. Transition into a prayer, asking the Lord to still your heart.
- Start small. Start with 30 seconds of stillness and quiet.
- Jot down any distracting thoughts to get them out of your mind, then go back to being still in His presence.
When we ask the Lord to speak to us, He will be faithful to answer according to His will. When we seek His presence, we experience sweet communion with the Lord.
Your Next Steps:
This week, I encourage you to take 30 seconds each day to quiet your heart and your mind and simply be still in God’s presence.
When you do, you’ll be able to say with the psalmist, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him” (Psalm 62:1).
Scriptures to Read:
Psalm 46:10; Psalm 62:1; Matthew 11:28; Exodus 33
Recommended Resources:
Prayers of REST Podcast (the “S” stands for stillness, and will help you develop this habit)
Quiet Time for Busy Women: 6 Weeks to Becoming Consistent in Your Daily Devotions
Walking with God: Enjoying God’s Presence from Morning to Night
He is Enough: Living in the Fullness of Jesus