Now, before you start to get worried, know this: this is not about Hinduism or Yoga practices!
Rather, this is about the very real practice of being still before the Lord, our God. In Psalm 46:10, the psalmist writes, “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” [CSB] You may have heard it in another version as “Be still, and know that I am God…“, but the meaning is still the same. We are called to stop and acknowledge who God is.
Since the beginning of my walk with Jesus, I have always struggled with keeping still. I love to stay busy. It made me feel important to have a litany of things on my To-Do list! I felt like I was of use and that I was so great.
The problem is I’m putting a lot of emphasis on ME and not on the one who Strengthens Me. Psalm 46 reminds us of who it is who provides for us during our times of trouble. As the psalmist describes how “the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,” (v. 6; CSB). we are reminded that “The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (v. 7; CSB)
What an amazing relief to know that while our world may feel like it is crumbling, God stands firm in protecting us! For this reason, we must take the time to meditate on God’s Word and on His glory.
Every evening, I make it a point to engage in evening devotionals and to read my Bible. No one is around, so it’s not for personal glory or public recognition. I do this because I know that taking a moment to focus onHim reminds me that, no matter what happened during the day, God is still with me. And if I wake up the next morning, God will still be with me.
“Five Second Challenge”:
- Take some time tonight and allow yourself to just be in the presence of God. I personally like to listen to some music or ambient sounds (sometimes even a combination of both).
- Start off with a devotional or crack open that Bible you may have been neglecting. No judgment! Haha, I spent many years staring at my Bible before I realized that every answer I was looking for was right there. If you don’t currently have a Bible reading plan or if you haven’t read the Bible in a while, might I recommend starting with the Gospels? Reaquaint yourself with who God is through Jesus. Remind yourself of just how much He loves you.
- After reading, I want you to do one of two things:
- Unburden yourself and pray
- “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 [CSB]
- Sit in silence and let God speak to your spirit.- Prayer is a conversation between you and God. He wants to speak just as much as you want to tell Him everything you want. But if we love Him the way we should, we must remember that we were made for Him. Ask Him what he wants from you.
- “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,”– James 1:19 [CSB]
- Unburden yourself and pray
We at Football Faith are praying for your success! We will give more Spiritual Fitness tips so you may run with endurance! How do you take time to be still before God? Share in the comments – we’d love to encourage each other!