Shhhhh!

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

I was encouraged recently by this post by Mary DeMuth at The Master's Artist blog (Tuesday April 8 "Be Aware"). Lately I've felt like I just can't focus. I stay awake at night dwelling on work stuff. During the day, story ideas dancing in my head distract me from the tasks at hand. On my drive to and from work, I'm making mental lists of things at home and in my personal life needing my attention.

So on the drive home that day, I just clicked the radio off and tried to heed God's command in Psalm 46:10. Goodness, it's hard to just be still sometimes, isn't it? Sure, we can be sitting perfectly still in church or laying still in bed. But how often do we stop to be completely still and focus our attention on God? What does it mean to be still? For me, it's not just physically coming to a halt, but also shutting out all the mental distractions competing for my attention. That means the voices in my head. The ones planning my next story or blog entry. The ones carrying on imaginary conversations with the person I think needs a piece of my mind. The discouraging ones that laugh at my attempts to write as well as the prideful ones that commend my efforts prematurely. The worrisome ones reminding me of unfinished tasks and potential problems.

Being still for me is akin to laying flat on my back out in the yard on a cloudless night and just taking in the heavenly wonders. But simply being still is not enough. The proponents of extreme forms of yoga and meditation are content to empty their minds. God is not satisfied with us merely being still. He tells us to KNOW with every fiber of our being that He is God!