listen

Being still, stationary, without an agenda, without plans, without ‘somewhere to be’ , without obligations/commitments/ when your mind stops running, the pace of life has slowed down….almost to a halt. Most would consider this a gift, a vacation, to be in solitude for a while, to escape and disappear. Admittedly, I have fallen into the category of rejoicing over a few free moments now and then. However, I am coming out of one of the busiest seasons of my life to a season where I feel I have too much time. No school, no work, no major commitments, every second is not scheduled in…the relief of this new day to day freedom has worn off. I am boooored…and sometimes lonely. I find great opportunities to grow with God, but I am also wide open, and actually susceptible to spiritual warfare. I’ve been hit, hard, and often.
The Word tells of so many great spiritual leaders who needed to be in solitude, to be alone in a desert to be molded and shaped so God could use them. I cannot imagine that 40 years for Moses, or 40 days for Jesus would have been easy. Or even Jonah in the whale, Paul in prison…I could go on. And scripture so often says ‘be still’

‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.’ – Exodus 14:14
‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…”- Psalm 37:7
‘Be still, and know that I am God…”-Psalm 46:10

I’m sure there’s more…but why is it so hard for us? To be still, to stop, to listen. Our culture is fast paced, and that can be beneficial, but as believers why is it almost torture to slow down, to be still?? Even when we’re spending time with God, worshiping, or reading, or praying…we’re not being STILL!

I struggle with this ‘gift’ of time…I’m at a point of thinking it may be a curse (half kidding…)