by Susan Tolles
“Be still and know that I am God.”
The wonderful words of God, commanding us to be still—to sit without fidgeting, to be quiet and listen, to stay until He says it’s time to go. Not, “How about stopping by for a few minutes for a chat?” but “Be STILL.”
Be still—a difficult task for most women, but one of the best ways to honor God, and yourself, for true freedom in life.
I have always been a “doer,” busy doing things for everyone and seldom sitting still. “Acts of Service” is my “love language,” and from doing laundry to being a “super mom” to being a school board president, I have honored those I love through good deeds. I have joked that sitting still is not in my DNA, and believed that I could commune with God on the run.
But lately, at age 54, I have learned to truly meditate with God, and what a blessing it has been. I have gone from living without real focus and purpose, to a place of true joy and contentment. I have taken the limited vision for a new business that I started to new heights while the plan that God has for me sometimes takes my breath away. Through meditating with Him, I now have a Life Purpose Statement, and He has given me goals that I would never dreamed of on my own. Being still has changed my life.
We must take God’s commandment to heart: BE STILL and know that He is God. Spend time with Him, without distractions, knowing that this is the ultimate “act of service” to Him and ourselves.
Use these guidelines to hear what He has in store, and live with contentment and joy knowing that your life will be full of clarity, energy, simplicity and passion as you talk withHim, not to Him, on a daily basis.
- Sit in a comfortable place with no distractions. Play some quiet music and picture yourself in beautiful, calm surroundings. Breathe deeply, and feel the warmth of God’s presence. Tell Him you are there to listen, not just make requests.
- Thank Him for the many ways He has blessed you, both big and small. Praise Him for the goodness that He has put all around you. Even when you are hurting, thank Him for being there with you every day.
- Ask Him to guide you, to tell you what He wants for your life, instead of telling Him what YOU want for yourself.
- Cast your self-critic aside, knowing that with God, all things are possible.
Just this morning, in a daily “Message from God” that I subscribe to, I was given this: On this day, God wants you to know… that you’ve been talking to God too much, and not listening enough. Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you become quiet and listen to God. You’ve learned how to talk and ask well. Time to learn how to listen and hear, because God has been answering you.
Time to meditate. Won’t you join me?
Susan Tolles is the founder of Flourish Over 50, with a passion to inspire women over 50 to live abundant lives. Through a website, videos, workshops, and personal coaching, Susan encourages and equips women to dream big and step out on faith, with self-confidence and joy. Visit her at www.flourishover50.com .
