Week 2

Growing In The Stillness

Understanding the Importance of Stillness in the Christian Walk

Last week, we discussed Quiet & Grace; this week, our focus is Growing In The Stillness. The word stillness means: freedom from noise, agitation, motion, or excitement.

Let’s focus on the positive benefits of being still. When we calm our mind and spirit, it strengthens our faith and fellowship with our Heavenly Father. Why stillness is so important as we grow in Christ, to know God’s guidance in a clear distinctive manner.

“Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Quiet, Grace, And The Calm In Stillness

One phrase that has been circulating the past few years, is to be grounded. What does that even mean? Many have their own perspectives of what that may be, and you know, they are all right! Haha There is no right or wrong to being grounded or finding stillness.

What Does It Mean To Be Grounded?

Grounding is something that is unique and personal to everyone, this is an activity or thought that a person entertains so that they can be still and refocus their attention where it needs to be. One may find calmness and tranquility while enjoying nature, to be still and breath in the fresh air under a shade tree can be considered grounding. A place they can relax, close their eyes and allow their mind to be at ease. Others may find relaxation on a slow country drive, perhaps riding a horse, or enjoying a hot cup of tea on a cozy couch observing nature through a window. These are all right, you just have to seek what calms you.

Finding Your Personal Stillness

Everyone has their own unique perspective of what stillness is to them, do you have yours? What atmosphere or activity helps to soothe your mind and body? Find your stillness, that is where you can find YOUR grounding.

Why Stillness Leads To Spiritual Clarity

Why Stillness Helps Us To Become Stronger Christians

Have you ever been in a situation or even watched a show that has medical professions that are facing an immediate response situation? If they allow panic, fear and hysteria to consume them, their judgement becomes clouded which causes them to be counterproductive. Breathing tends to shorten resulting inadequate oxygen to the brain which can impair decisive action.

Applying The Lesson To Our Faith

We may not be faced with scenarios such as these, but the idea is the same. It’s vital for Christians to spend time frequently with God in prayer and meditate on His Word. This is our “oxygen to our brain” where we find strength, renewing of mind, body and spirit. When we find stillness in God, it prepares us for challenging times that lie in our future that may involve spiritual warfare (fear, panic, hysteria).

Stillness And Spiritual Warfare

The Bible teaches us that we are in a spiritual warfare, we may not experience spiritual attacks all the time but just as a soldier in the military trains, he is always prepared; as should Christians be.

Stillness Is Not Easy!

We live in a time where here, now and must be done yesterday are the new “norm” for the pace of our lives. This is not what God would have for us. When I mentioned earlier about the immediate response situations that invoke panic and urgency, this sense of now and needs to be done yesterday will age us quicker than we realize! This mindset takes a toll on our mind, spirit and physical being.

Learning To Practice Stillness

Stillness takes practice and patience, one that is worth thriving for. This takes time, if you don’t feel successful on the first attempt, try focusing to achieve stillness five or ten minutes at first and add a minute each time. With each stillness attempt you will get the sense of ease and comfort in your mind, body, and spirit.

Proverbs 3:6-8

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (8) ***It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”***

Making Time To Hear God

While being still, our goal is to put all responsibilities aside so that we may allow space to hear God speak to us. What ever thought may come, address it and let it go, if you need to write that thought down to refocus your time to be in the Stillness of God’s presence then do what works!

Incorporating Scripture Into Stillness

While practicing stillness an extra challenge to exercise is to read one verse of Scripture before you sit in stillness, ask God to show you more clarity, how can you apply it to your life, or it may be a golden nugget of information He wants you to know by adding another building block to your faith.

Stillness as Strength For The Soul

By allowing ourselves to be still, we start to prioritize what is important and start releasing the distractions that may hold us back from shining our true light into our every day life.

Just as we need adequate oxygen to o our brain in an urgent situation, stillness in God’s presence is “oxygen” to our soul.

Growing In The Stillness

Week 2