I love to make lists and I find it very satisfying to cross things off that list. As a wife, mother, nurse, and homemaker I seem to have an endless list of things to do, errands to run, and appointments to make. I am a ‘do-er’. I often say “I should”. But sometimes I need to stop “should-ing” on myself, because God desires rest for us, here is one thing I really SHOULD do each day, rest and allow God to refresh my spirit.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
How often do we stop and just ‘be still’? I don’t do it very often but when I do, I notice the simple things in life around me.
For just a moment, right now, close your eyes to the laundry, the dishes, and the day-to-day demands of everyday life and open your eyes to the beauty of the world around you. Put down your phone and look at the world around you, just for a few moments, and join me as we rest.
“Be still”.
Take a deep breath and let out the worries of the day. Relax your shoulders and allow yourself a few moments of reflection. Feel the pulse of your blood as it moves through your beautiful body. “You are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 14). Thank God for your body and all it does for you everyday.
Notice nature. Look up at the sky. Clouds fascinate me. They are never the same, always changing and always beautiful. Light and fluffy like cotton balls, dark, stormy, and heavy with rain; or full of colour in a sunrise or sunset. Look at a tree or flower and notice it’s delicate shapes and colours. God made this world for us to enjoy and we can’t do that if we don’t ever stop to notice.
“And know”.
Have you ever felt something so deep in your spirit or gut that you just KNOW? A foundational truth, an unshakable belief, something in your core that you JUST KNOW? Remember the anchors in your life. The really important things. Jesus loves you. You have an eternal hope in Him. The storms of life will blow around us. The trivial things will overwhelm us. Deadlines will cause us anxiety and stress. But God is our anchor and that is something we can KNOW.
“That I am God”.
Sometimes I forget God. I launch out of bed, rush into my day, eager to get things done. When I am too busy to start my day with God, who is in control? I am, not God. Remember HE is GOD. I don’t have to do it all on my own. I can call out to Him to give me strength, joy, and purpose in life. Just because something is urgent doesn’t mean it is important. The tyranny of the urgent can overwhelm and distract from what is truly important in our life. Time with God, with family, with friends, and even with just ourselves. To just Be Still and KNOW, that He is God. And yes, stop ‘should-ing” on yourself.