“Be still and know that I am God.”
-Psalm 46.10,The Bible, NIV
Ok, Ok… so I started this blog because I was on a journey to read the Bible from cover to cover, chronologically. Well, I still am reading it that way daily but I’m also studying other topics. So here was one that caught my attention. It’s titled, “Soul Rest – 7 Days To Renewal.” Here’s what I got out of it:
Day 1 – This lesson taught me to take at least 10 minutes to be still and I was wondering, what does that actually mean? I set the clock and sat, closed my eyes, and I literally put my fingers in my ears so I wouldn’t hear anything and at first all I heard was, “be still, be still, be still.” Later on I heard the ticking of the clock, an airplane flying by, my kids talking, their voices outside my door. I heard a dog barking in the distance and I just thought, “Wow, what a wonderful God that He allows me to have ears to hear these things!” We just take all of it for granted. We’re so busy running around and rushing. Later I forced myself to relax; put my shoulders down cause I was still kinda tense. But I allowed myself to relax and after a few minutes went by I heard the door open and shut which meant that my husband was home. When I heard that, I started to get distracted because the kids started getting louder. Even though they were joking and laughing it was not easy to come back to that stillness and that quietness. Psalm 46.10a says, “Be still and know that I am God.” I read a quote that goes something like this: We must ruthlessly do everything we can to get the distractions out of our lives. It really is a fight be still! There’s just so much going on around us. I believe this is why people do all this early in the morning. I get distracted so easily. I need to find that stillness and be able to really listen and know what’s going on in my mind and heart, to know what God is trying to tell me, what God wants of me and from me, and what God’s purpose is for me.
“It is no easy task to walk this earth and find peace. Inside of us, it would seem, something is at odds with the very rhythm of things and we are forever restless, dissatisfied, frustrated and aching.
We are so overcharged with desire that it is hard to come to simple rest.” -Ronald Rolheiser
Day 2 – Today the homework was to take inventory of the areas that seem as though they are in a state of unrest. This is so coincidental. Or is it? At work I listen to podcasts for about 2 hours or I listen to books on audible, or listen to the bible app. One of the things I listen to a lot is regarding the process of past traumas. And look what today’s homework is. Anyway, I was edgy today. I didn’t want to listen to anything but being alone in the office is too quiet so I listened to instrumental Spanish guitar on Spotify. I really miss my sons jamming together with their guitars. As I listened, the purpose being that I wanted to be still, clear my mind, and just enjoy the moment of being alone. But what came to me was surprising. I was struggling with the temptation to listen to a podcast. It isn’t a bad thing, but it made me realize how easily it lures me. It was like an idol. Yesterday I was struggling to be still. My body was tense and I was anxious. Then I switched to jazz because it reminds me of my dad. I allowed myself to feel whatever emotion came. I found that it was too fast and didn’t relax me so I skipped through it and that was too slow, so I found myself struggling again to listen to a podcast. What is this? The devil will do anything to distract us. I was getting distracted from being quiet. So I asked myself, “What do I really want ? Why can’t I decide on this ONE thing?” So I turned everything off. Silence, except for the sound of the fan spinning. This made me sigh. Then sigh again. Peace and quiet. Ahhh…that’s what I want! BUT once I did that my mind started racing again. Ugh. No wonder I’m so tired. My mind was racing, thinking about my blood work, getting back to eating right, exercising, being still, finding balance, blogging, etc….. argh! It’s so hard to be still! So that’s my state of unrest. In addition to that, here are some others:
- My emotions: Struggling with anxiety and the fear of missing out (FOMO).
- My schedule: I need to stop over-scheduling things. (Update: I’m not!)
- Exercise: I need to put this into action at least 5 days a week. (Update: I AM!)
- My health: Blood sugar has been uncontrolled.
I thought of today’s scripture as much as I could:
“Ps. 139.23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
The Bible
Day 3: “Focus on the Source.” God is the true source of rest. The homework was to drink in the reality of who God really is, remembering and focusing on His story. Meditate on God as a source of rest. The first passage that came to mind is Psalm 23.1-2 Many people have memorized it and it is often used at funerals but it’s also for the living. This is what I found in my study: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. I LACK NOTHING means ALL my needs are met. I have a roof over my head, clothes to wear, shoes for my feet, food to eat, transportation. I have a job. A job I enjoy. I have a sound mind. I can make decisions. I have good health. I can walk. I can talk. I can see. All my basic needs I have. And I have even more than that. The Lord takes care of me. The Lord cares for me. The Lord watches over me as a shepherd watches over his sheep. All I have to do is trust him because he’s my Shepherd and he’s got me. I lack nothing because he is MY shepherd. My caretaker, my provider. All that said, I can rest. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BESIDE QUIET WATERS. In the Merriam dictionary green pastures means a better or more promising situation. It’s about freshness, not staleness. “Like God’s Word being fresh every day and God delights to feed us with fresh pasture.” I read that from a blog. Here’s another one: “The Shepherd creates enclosures where the sheep can rest at night as well as eat. In this sense the green pastures are a place for us to rest under God’s watchful eye.” I wish I could remember the blog domains that these came from. I watched videos about sheep listening to the Shepherd’s voice and I was amazed. It’s the perfect example as in John 10.27 “My sheep hear my voice and they listen.” Because of watching these videos it made it clear to me how a shepherd cares for the sheep. Sheep tend to wander off. They are dumb in the sense that they can get themselves hurt when they stray. So the Shepherd leads them to pastures so they can eat, keeps them from getting hurt, keeps them protected in a pen. The Shepherd and the sheep have a relationship. It’s hard work for the Shepherd but he always keeps a watchful eye out for the sheep. Since I am his sheep, I can rest.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.”
-Psalm 23.1-3
Day 4: What does God want for us? To really listen to Him and obey everything He says in His Word. It’s been so clear to me especially in the last few months from reading in the Old Testament. God is very specific and makes things so crystal clear of what He loves and hates. People have been caught up to heaven because they were righteous and people have been zapped dead because they were wicked. I thank God that I don’t live in those days. The way I’ve lived my life has been more wicked than righteous and I thank God for his grace and patience with me. As I sat still I started praising God, lifting His name on high, giving Him glory and honor. I didn’t ask for anything. I simply sat and praised Him over and over until tears started rolling down my eyes. Later, I thought this is what it means to know God. He is so holy that being in His presence can bring a person to tears. He is beautiful. He is the great I AM. This exercise is supposed to be from Day 3 but I’m glad I experienced it. At the end of praising Him I had to ask for forgiveness of my sins because I am so wretched.
“You don’t go to God because He’s useful,
you go because He’s beautiful.
And nothing is more useful than finding God beautiful.”
-Timothy Keller
Day 5: Today’s homework: Choose and practice to withhold or fast from something that you know will be difficult to live without. First it was to give up building my network marketing business. Now I wonder if He even wants me to blog. I didn’t ask Him. I just went ahead and started. But it takes time away from Him and adds stress on me even though I enjoy it because I’m constantly thinking about how to monetize it. (Just being honest here!) Yesterday I was so tired and moody. I thought about how my days have been lately. All the stress started with me being in business for myself. I miss the days when I could be in God’s Word for hours, taking my time to gain whatever insight God brought me that day. So I’ve given up sleep and wake up 3-1/2 hours earlier to be in the Word and prayer, then take the kids walking for 30-45 minutes. To me, THAT’S how God is providing for me to flourish and thrive and also by trying not to eat out so much and cook a healthy meal at home instead. Cooking gives me positive vibes. My sister always says, “If you want to eat good, eat at home.” There is so much truth in that! So I’ve given up sleep and eating out for the most part. Now to turn off – maybe even delete social media and my blog. Why do I need that anyway? What am I trying to prove when posting things? This is the question I’ve been asking myself. I need to figure that out before I continue. All I know is that I miss the slow and non-stressful days. Days when I could just BE and do whatever I want. I miss when my days were hobby filled. By that, I mean peaceful. (Update: I did delete some social media platforms and only went on occasionally on the ones I still have. Best decision ever!)
“We fast because, as those already caught up in Jesus kingdom-project, in God’s new world, we need to be sure that we are saying a firm goodbye to everything in us that still clings to the old.”
-N.T. Wright
“Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit – for any season – sets the stage for GOD TO APPEAR.”
-Dan B. Allender
Day 6: Paraphrase: Today we’re supposed to give because just as we receive, we need to give. We’re not only to give but to give anonymously. The power of this practice is ”the calibration and clarity it brings.” It helps to let us realize not who we want to be, but who we really ARE. That’s the meaning of Matthew 6.3 when it talks about not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing,” while giving. When you give without looking for something in return you’re giving grace to others and it helps you realize God’s grace towards you, and doing this produces rest. One of the great gifts of fasting in any form – eating, cell phone, social media, t.v., etc., is that it shows us how much we depend on that rather than on Go and being with Him. It helps us to gain clarity when God speaks, to hear his voice. When we’re not attached to things, it helps us gain rest because we’re not “consumed with the acquisition and maintenance of them.” THIS HIT ME HARD! When we fast on a regular basis, it helps us to realize that it is possible to live with less than we have.
“Our greatest fulfillment lies in giving ourselves to others.”
– Henri Nouwen
“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.”
Proverbs 11.25, The Bible
For this lesson I just did a paraphrase above. Below you’ll find what I got from the Bible regarding money.
- Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you.” Hebrews 13.5, MSG
- Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you; I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13.5, NIV
- Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13.5, ESV
- God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. 2 Corinthians 9.7
I know the above 3 passages are the same but I like to look up how it’s worded in other versions of the Bible. The assignment was to find ways to give even if it’s as small as paying for the coffee of someone behind you in the drive-through. I have to admit that I didn’t practice it today but I do this at random times and it’s always from the heart. When I do, with the intention of not getting anything back, it’s such a good and indescribable feeling! Did you know that the Bible teaches that it’s better to give than to receive? Acts 20.35 I always thought it was just cliche.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.”
Psalm 92.1-2, The Bible
Day 7: Well, I made it! Plan is done! Today we’re taught to have a Sabbath. How did I get here? Running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off? I remember and long for the days when I could be still. When all that mattered was God – me reading and studying His Word, and teaching it to my kids. What happened? Why has my life come to this?
What stood out to me on this lesson (These words are from the author of this plan): “God has ordained that we would stop and rest to truly consider His love, grace, and provision. While we are resting, God is still working. Practicing the Sabbath helps us identify how we’ve attempted in our own strength to achieve or accomplish what we think brings us rest and fulfillment. It also helps us to stave off the IDOL of productivity. When we stop our laboring and remember the Sabbath we remember the significant work that happened on the cross. When we remember what we’ve been rescued from, we will celebrate the rescuer.”
“A great benefit of Sabbath keeping is that we learn to let God take care of us – not by becoming passive and lazy – but in the freedom of giving up our feeble attempt to BE God in our own lives.”
-Marva Dawn
Well, that was a gooooood lesson! At least for me. It helped me think a lot. And now for the real reason that I’m here:
To share with you the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you a Christian? Would you like to give your life to Christ? Do you want to study the Bible? I can help! Just leave your request in the comments. For now, if you want to learn how to become a Christian and have your sins washed away, go here: https://lifeandliftedhands.com/the-plan-of-salvation/
Oh and btw, if you have time check out the things I have for sale in my Ecwid store! Click on “store” on the menu above.
THANKS FOR VISITING!
