Be Still and Know – 5 Thoughts On Finding Stillness In A Busy World

Be Still

My weekday reality often feels like I’m running from one place to the next.  It often seems as though I take little time to be still.  And even when I’m sitting down or laying down to sleep, my mind is in motion.  Yet the Bible clearly calls us to be still and know that He is God.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46

How do I make this “stillness” a reality in my life?  These are the thoughts I explore today, and here are some ideas that come to mind.

  1. Be intentional with my schedule.  I schedule everything else through my calendar – my meetings at work, my activities at night, my morning appointments at the dentist office.  I schedule all of these things.  Why not schedule time to be still?
  2. Turn off the noise.  I spend so much time reading blogs and books and listening to podcasts.  These things are all great resources, but they can distract us from quieting our minds and finding stillness.
  3. Learn to say no.  Many weeknights, it seems like our schedule is packed.  We seem to like busyness.  We need to learn to say “No”.  We can’t do everything, and we don’t have to do everything.  Saying no to one activity or meeting request could mean an opportunity to be at home and an opportunity to be still.
  4. Dive into God’s Word.  The Psalms are such a great place to read and meditate and to hear the voice of God.
  5. Find accountability.  Ask a friend to hold you accountable to the actions above or the actions that you take find stillness.

Do you struggle with finding stillness in your life?  How do you make time to be still?  What difference has stillness made in your life – particularly in knowing God?