“Be still and know that I am God.”
– Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
Daily Meditation: Psalm 46, Exodus 14:14
Stillness. It’s a difficult state to achieve in our everyday lives. Most mornings, we as women feel overwhelmed with life and the responsibilities it holds, and yet this act of being still is of great value to us in our pursuit of physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health.
The first part of Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” We know what stillness is, but most of us aren’t sure if we can actually experience it in our lives. How is it possible for us to be still when we have to balance all the responsibilities and pressures of family needs, work obligations, ministry commitments, and investments in friendships, not to mention that exhaustive everyday to-do list? I’m anxious just thinking about it all! In a world where it seems like no one else is stopping or being still, why, and especially how, can we expect to?
Let me encourage you to take the first step in your attempt at stillness by meditating on these truths:
He is God… and he is here for me.
He is God… and he is in control.
He is God… and he sees me and loves me.
He is God… and I don’t have to be.
When I know and truly believe that he is God—and I am not—my perspective changes. The anxiety lessens. The fears recede. The darkness begins to break. And all of these changes then usher in a sense of calm, an ability to be still.
There’s no denying that stillness is a challenge for all of us. But God knows it’s possible, and he has given us the truth we need to cling to in order to experience it.
“In the silence of the heart God speaks.
– Mother Teresa
Jesus exemplifies what it means to be still before God. He is never anxious, hurried, or too busy. Today, try to spend time being still before God. I believe that in this stillness we can really begin to “know” just how mighty our heavenly Father really is… and when we truly comprehend just how capable, strong, caring, and amazing he is, our lives change for the better!
Let’s let 2019 be the year we grow closer to the Lord and become the fearless, strong, and faithful woman we are meant to be in Him! In Be Fearless, Julie Clinton provides a scripturally-sound guide for finding freedom, purpose, joy… and fearlessness. Be Fearless is now available in our store! https://www.aacc.net/product/be-fearless/ Consider working through Be Fearless with another extraordinary woman or group this year!
Julie Clinton, MAd, MBA, is president of Extraordinary Women and host of EWomen conferences all across America. She is the author of several books including A Woman’s Path to Emotional Freedom, 10 Things You Aren’t Telling Him, and Extraordinary Women. She is passionate about seeing women live out their dreams by finding their freedom in Christ. Julie and her husband, Tim, live in Virginia with their children, Megan and Zach.