On my church bulletin from last Sunday is a picture of a stop sign mounted on an extra tall post with arrows below it - one is going right, one left, one down, one up but they all have slashes across them indicating not to turn that direction. Below the signs is a verse from the 46th chapter of Psalms, "Be Still and Know That I Am God". . . . . . ..
This depicts how I feel right now in my life's journey. And the verse from His Word is exactly what I need to do. But this is a challenge to my anxious spirit. I want to move in one of those directions - get busy with something and not stop for awhile to listen to my heavenly Father.
The "should committee" is in full force in my head. You should be making money. You should be using your skills to help others, you should be productive - there's no time to sit around, get with it!! I even feel guilty for sitting still. Wait a minute! Who was it who told me to do be still?
The Lord. Why did he tell me that? Because He has a plan for my life and I need to listen for His direction before I proceed.
How do I accomplish this? I can't just sit in a rocking chair all day and wait for Him to speak! First, I pick up my Bible to read and ponder. Second, I pray and write in my journal. Third, I open my mind to possibilities, believing God will open some doors - the RIGHT doors for me to enter. Fourth, I develop MORE patience and fifth, I do what I call "no brainers" - i.e. painting the kitchen, mowing the lawn, cleaning the house and etc. Thanks to my husband, who has been so supportive of my decision not to work outside the home, I also have some much needed time to spend with family and friends - that is a tremendous blessing to me:-)
And God is beginning to show me some paths. At a Christian Education meeting the other night, we were brain storming on how we could get a Sunday School started for children and teens. We will be starting a campaign of sorts to get this program started. One of the things we will do is share our enthusiasm with the congregation each Sunday. I was asked to write a skit to be presented in church. "I would love to!" was my response, my spirit soaring inside me. . . . I get to write again - I can actually sit down and write a short play - yay!!!!
And how did I know this was God leading me down a new path? First, he has given me the skill and love for writing. It has been tucked away for awhile. But it has always been my dream to pursue it further. Not as a reporter, as in former days, but in some new way. It is a dream that keeps coming back to me time and time again. For years, I have put it on the back burner.
In a recent sermon, our Pastor said that if your life's dream - your passion - keeps returning to you - it is an indication that the dream is from God and involves His plan for your life. But you have to be still to listen for His leading - to recognize when He says, "Come walk with me."
"Be still and know that I am God." Have you tried this in your life? If so, how?
3 comments:
Another great post. I need to take more moments to "be still" and listen to God. It's easy to forget Him in this busy world and in our day-to-day interactions. Being "still" is not something that our culture likes to do very much anymore.
great start on your blog!!
stillness is often seen as "lazy". It's our fast food life styles, at least it seems that way to me. I find I have to be still in the early morning before I even get dressed. Once I am dressed it's like I have to be doing something, anything, but not sitting quietly in God's presence and listening to Him.
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