Be Still

It's been a very busy week.  And to be honest, just a little bit stressful.  Baseball games and practice every night, a mouse in our house, my youngest's school reported a few kids with lice last week...guess who got it this week...ugh!  Then today I hit a curb and blew out my tire.  Needless to say, it's just been a crazy week!  So, I decided to pull out a post from the archives...one that I needed to be reminded of.  This is from my Seeking Peace in the Midst of the Mess series.  Hopefully you'll enjoy it too.

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10a

I think the thing that alludes me the most these days is quiet time.  Time to just sit in the presence of God and take a breather.  On the days that I do it I see a big difference in my attitude, my thoughts, and how I handle the day.  It's such an immediate benefit that I always end up saying, why don't I do this everyday?  I mean really.

Even though I struggle with getting up early in the morning, I have found for me, on the days that I have done it, that it works best for me to have that quiet time then.  That way I've gotten that soul & spirit-nourishing stillness before anyone gets up and the day really gets going.  The rest of my day really reaps the benefits.  

This is time to sit quiet and lay out anything that's weighing on me or anything that I have questions in my heart about.  It's time to sit and "listen" for any answers or leadings that may rise up in me as a result of releasing those concerns.  And it's time to recall all the good things in my life and give thanks to God for His gifts.  Sometimes I read the bible, sometimes a devotional that can give me one thought to meditate on. Other times I may talk and pour out my heart, then there are times when I'm more silent.  Most times it's a mix of all those things.  But the bottom line is, there is no right or wrong way, no list of rules to follow.  It's just about being still and giving my soul a rest while my spirit gets nourished in the Presence of the Lord.

Make your quiet time special.

Just some ideas to consider...

Pick a cozy spot in the house, maybe near a window, to go to daily for your quiet time. Take time ahead to set up that special spot with some of the things that you'd like to have nearby for your quiet times.  Grab a pretty basket to hold such things as a bible, devotional, prayer book, any inspirational reading, peaceful music, and a notebook and pen to jot down all the good things you receive from your time with the Lord.  The night before, lay out a special tea/coffee cup and bag of tea/coffee to brew in the morning to sip on during the peace and quiet.  The bottom line is, prepare ahead to enjoy your time.


Seek peace by pursuing regular quiet time...begin today.  
 For those of you who, like me, also struggle with having this time carved out, won't you join me?  Starting tomorrow, I'm not going to hit the snooze button, I'm getting up and seeking peace.

This scripture comes to mind...

Isaiah 26:3, You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

Try this, instead of the words him and he, I encourage you to put your name in there and speak it out loud this morning as you begin your quiet time.  I'll do the same.  This is our declaration and a promise from God that He will keep us in perfect and constant peace because we're committed to seeking Him.

Is this your first visit to Freedom Friday?
We're embracing freedom each Friday here in 2012.
Click here for a list of the other posts in the series.