Be Still and Know: Slowing Down to Encounter God

Psalms 46:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

Stillness requires effort.

The world moves at breakneck speed. Pervasive technology intended to save time has only sped it up. Whether we want to be or not, we are caught up in the milieu of velocity. We have been formed to rush around under the pressure caused by the speed of others’ desires and wants. Whether it is a two-year-old, a boss, spouse, co-worker, or friend, someone always wants something, and the force of haste can overwhelm us. It is not only our bodily movement, but our thoughts rush, perhaps at an even more rapid pace. We may only encounter the pressure of others in a bodily way when we encounter them physically, but we hold in our minds all their desires overlaid on top of our own. Both create pressure to move. Like the freeway at rush hour, thoughts are racing, weaving, honking, switching lanes, all trying to get somewhere at the same time. No wonder we have been commanded to be still. It takes effort.

Being still begins with our bodies. We must slow down, pause, turn off the engine, and be still. Whether we sit or stand, kneel or lie prostrate, we must force our bodies to be still.

Our bodies are a gift to help our hearts move into a spiritual place with God. Of course, our bodies can be our worst enemy if we let the cross-pressures of life dictate the movements of our bodies. However, when we take control over our bodies, we can position them in a way that helps us move into that spiritual space. Then, we must still our minds. The stillness we need is found in the mind and spirit, but God has given us a body to use in creating resistance between us and our thoughts, helping our minds slow down so our spirit can be still.

Our bodily position and location are important, but this only prepares us for the most challenging part: slowing down the thoughts that rush through our minds from the many desires and responsibilities that pull our attention away from the throne of God. This is a spiritual battle. We must take each thought captive and reframe it in accordance with God's promises and power. Rather than worry, we remind ourselves of God’s promise to provide. Using our words, we give that issue to the Lord. One by one, we lay down the distractions. We focus on the Lord, imagining Him next to us as He is, speaking and listening. When another distracting thought comes up, we reframe it and then release it.

This is work. We will not remain still without putting in the work to achieve stillness. As we become more skilled at this, our time with God will become more intimate, and we will come to know Him more deeply.

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think stillness is so difficult in our current culture, and what does that reveal about our spiritual formation?

How can we practically use our bodies to help quiet our minds and move into a deeper spiritual space with God?

What does it look like in your life to “take every thought captive” during moments of stillness, and how might that deepen your relationship with God?

Prayer:

Lord, give me the strength to resist the pressures and distractions that work to keep my body and mind rushing to earthly concerns. Teach me to be still with You. Amen.