The psalmist reminds us, “Be still and know that I am God.”  (Ps. 46:10) 

“Be still” are all-encompassing words.  It can mean to sink, relax, let drop, let go, withdraw, and cease striving.  The list could certainly go on.

How much of your day do you spend letting go, and letting God be God in your life?  How often do you stop to breathe and recognize His peace?  In a world that is so rarely “still”, taking time to consistently be still and let go is not all that easy, is it?  

If you find yourself lost in the noise of this world, stop and breathe and follow these few suggestions:

Look at God’s creation – What better place to spend time with God than in His magnificent creation.  The colors of the sunset, or sunrise, fresh air, beautiful flowers, flowing fields of grain, majestic hills, and mountains, flowing rivers, sparkling waters in lakes and seas.  Let go while you spend time in His masterpieces.  Breathe in His peace in those quiet places.  (Ps. 96:11-12)

Look at the evidence of God’s work – When troubles threaten to overwhelm you, stop and breathe.  Listen to these words from Ps. 107:6 “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress”.  Also, look around you and see how God has worked in the lives of others, transformed them, and delivered them from their distress.  It’s hard to deny that He is God after seeing God’s work in others.

Look at yourself – Have you ever stopped to consider how God has been working in your life?  He has called you as one of His own through your baptism.  We are told that He even knows each hair on your head.  Have you lifted your eyes from internal chaos to see His face clearly?  “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” Philippians 2:13

Quiet the world around you – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14. We have so many external distractions trying to destroy our internal peace.  It takes a conscious decision to turn off the world.  How quiet is your house when you choose to silence your phone and turn off the TV?  Can you hear God in the silence?  He is there waiting.  You need only listen.

•  Be still today.  
•  Let go.  
•  Release your burdens to God.  
• Cease striving solely on your own. God is near. Let God be God in each and every day of your lives.