Stillness in the Midst of a Busy Day

Have you ever walked back into your home exhausted as you open the front door? When the children were younger I could walk in and survey the aftermath of a morning's frenzy. Our days can consist of a frenzied rush as we struggle to fulfill family, work, home and volunteer obligations leaving no time in our schedule.

Often when our lives get out of control we must realize it may be because we've stopped spending time on those things we value most. Our alone time with God often is the first thing that gets pushed aside. Before we know it, we are living a chaotic lifestyle where fun and stillness are mere memories.

Many of us live constantly on the move, stretched beyond our maximum. We know that we need to stop to rest, plan and regroup, and draw closer to God. The truth is that the door to stillness is waiting for us to open it and go through but it won't open itself. We must choose to make stillness a daily part of our lives.

To live wisely, we must learn to balance the time we spend in quiet and calm with the time we spend in the hustle of everyday life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, There is a time for everything. This includes a time and place to cultivate stillness in the midst of our busy, productive lives.

It is imperative for us to get away from everything and everybody on a regular basis for thought, prayer and rest. Stillness is the key to keeping ourselves from becoming frazzled and out of control. It is as necessary as sleep, exercise and nutritious food. Perspective is lost when these are out of balance.

People who make time for stillness have the energy and perspective to stay on top of their hectic lives. As we seek God for direction, He will open the door to discovering ways to implement our needed quiet times.

There are things that can only be accomplished as we meet the Lord in quiet. It is in our quiet times that we get a handle on so many challenging aspects of our lives. I Thessalonians 4: 11, 12: Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life & so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Retreating to a quiet place helps us to discover stillness. For some it may need to be outdoors and for others it may be indoors. There have been times in our lives that we have literally sat on the patio watching the sprinklers meditating on God. When we are over stimulated and worn down by the constant barrage of life, the spirit of stillness and time alone with God are lifesavers.

God's Word can be the foundation of our security and strength. It is through daily Scripture reading, prayer and meditation that we can tap into God's strength and love and get a handle on our lives.

God is our shepherd and He will guide us when we seek Him. He will provide every resource we need to walk with Him. When we plan ahead and make time for Him we can be sure that God's strength will carry us through the many demands of life.

Today my friends I pray that a busy life will not be what makes you less productive. I am a firm believer that a busy person can always handle a job better than someone with lots of time on their hands. Please know that I am not advocating doing less I'm simply saying that we must prioritize and make room for God. It's amazing how taking 15 minutes of stillness with God yields a more productive day. God time reduces stress and causes me to work more effectively.

Is life frazzled, frantic, hectic, out of control, frustrating, etc? If so stop...take a minute or more to think on the goodness of God, read a scripture, whisper a prayer, hum a song. You'll be amazed the calmness He will bring!

Blessings for a calm yet busy or productive day!