The Power of Stillness.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

It seems at times we live in a world that is moving at supersonic speed as we are inundated with information coming at us from so many different sources.

With email, texting, Twitter, Facebook, TV, entertainment venues, etc. there is no lack of keeping the mind and thought processes totally occupied with external stimuli!

Slowing down long enough to reflect, pray and meditate is fast becoming a lost discipline for many people today but I believe we do so at our own spiritual and emotional peril.

Practicing “stillness”, or as some would say, ”practicing the presence of God” can assist us a great deal in getting to know our God in a more personal way in our lives and ultimately make our faith more real to ourselves as well!

There is an interesting story in the Old Testament about the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings Ch. 19 as the Lord revealed himself to him: “Then He (God) said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. (vs.11-12).

Rarely does God reveal himself to us through spectacular things, yet seeking after that small still voice of God can be so difficult for most of us as we find our incessant thought life at times so difficult to shut down.

We can become pre-occupied with thoughts about work, family life, finances, personal relationships and so on, working ourselves at times into states of hyper fear or anxiety, not stopping long enough to realize just how much God is beckoning us to Himself to spend those quality quiet moments with Him and to find much needed rest in His presence.

Jesus said in Matthew Ch. 11-28: “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.”…ah yes, that sweet spiritual rest, the place where all striving and fretting ceases….will you come and find God in the stillness?….He is waiting to meet with you right now!

By Victor Cyr