3 Ways to Be Still in the Morning

3 Ways to Be Still in the Morning

As I huffed and puffed up the stairs to the third floor, I sat the basket of laundry on the hardwood beside my bed. I looked around and sighed. The first thing I did for the cluttered room was open the curtains. If I was going to spend time folding, sorting, and ironing laundry I might as well let some sunshine in.

The next thing I did was make the bed. I don’t know about you, but making a bed makes the room look neater right away. I put the basket on the bed and tipped it upside down. Out flowed the contains of socks, underwear, and wrinkled shirts. I had left them in the dryer the day before. An extra few minutes of “fluffing” this morning didn’t get the wrinkles out. I sorted the clothes, folded what I could and put away the rest. The horrible socks made their way into their own basket on the floor. I’ve found socks are much easier to do if left for the end of laundry day in front of the television.

At the beginning of this day, like so many of my days, I get up, take a shower, get the kids ready for school, pile the five kids in, drop the older two off, and drive back home. I immediately pull out my chair next to the kitchen, let my five year old turn on Netflix, and I open God’s Word. I sat first today, not opening the Bible, the app on my phone, or even turning on music. I just sat there. Waiting. I looked at my mug: “Be still” I looked at the random card I had stuck to my photo frame the day before: “Be still and know.” I looked at the cover of my journal: “Be Still Journal.”

Maybe God was telling me something. I decided to not pray, or read, or listen – but to just be still. I wanted to soak in God’s presence in this small space in front of my desk. I wanted to not even try to hear His voice (silence has sort of been His thing of late). I only felt called to “Be Still.” I realized I needed to be super productive today. I began filling my mind with a to-do list. I stopped right away. I prayed:

Dear Lord, help me to rest while I am working today. Amen.

I’m not sure how to do it perfectly, but as the afternoon sun began to set, I realized I’d been both still and productive. I had folded five loads of laundry. Ironed about 30 (no joke, I counted) pieces of clothing, and matched a ca-jillon (approximate) socks. I cleaned, washed dishes, straightened up toys and even managed to prep for dinner. I listened to an online conference, did some blog affiliate work, and then even some writing. Only, I hadn’t felt rushed. Or busy. I’ve felt still.

So I’ve decided to stop trying to check things off of my list, and instead. Just did the next thing.

So being still isn’t about non-movement, or unproductively.  I can be productive and be still. By doing the next right thing. I’m loving, loving, loving Emily P. Freeman’s new podcast: The Next Right Thing. So do not think I have cornered the market on this “next right thing” – I’m totally taking thoughts about it from her.

Just a few weeks of listening to her, choosing to stop rushing, and learning to savor change, I’ve found being still is a frame of the heart. A bending of the will and mind. I can breathe deep. And just relax, while I fold laundry. I can not fret about nap time lengths or waiting in car lines because God is in the stillness.

I don’t have to hear His voice in my Spirit to know He is there. He has proven it enough in the past. He is faithful to make known to me His presence even when I don’t feel it or hear it.

Usually I’m a hotness running around like a crazy-chicken lady trying to gather all of my chicks into the coop. Today I’ve learned being still (and still working) is possible. It begins with this three steps:

• 1. Get up early, or plan time where things are quiet in your life.
• 2. Close your eyes, fold your hands, and bow your hand.
• 3. Take deep, long breathes, pray short prayers, asking God to meet you here in the stillness.

You might not “feel” anything – or you might. You might not hear His spirit speak, but you might. If nothing happens (like today – nothing magical happened), don’t worry. It is about your heart’s position. Where is your heart resting? Is it trusting God in  the smallest of details? If you are – if you do, then you will find stillness. If your day is already half over, begin right now. Can you steal away for 10 minutes and find some quiet space? If so, I promise God will meet you.

Remember. He is in the whisper, not the wind.

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Do you need help in being still this holiday season? What if you spent 10 minutes a day in God’s Word and learned from Him the power of stillness? I’ve got the PERFECT reading plan for December!

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“Light Breaks Through” an advent reading plan designed to be read from December 1st –  December 25th. This devotional takes you through the entire Bible focusing on the Light of the World! During the Christmas Season, do you find yourself surrounded by darkness? Jesus, who came to earth to show us the Father, is the Light of the World. Let’s speak truth to our hearts each day leading up to Christmas.

In the Christmas Advent Book you will receive:

• A 25-day reading plan
• 25 advent devotionals
• 5 prayers for advent
• 4 memory verses
• 25 days of rest suggestions
• An advent hymn

 

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As a bonus with this {PDF} BUNDLE you will also get: 

• Discussion questions for your child
• 5 coloring sheets for your child
• 4 coloring sheets for you

• 5 scripture posters
• Memory verse cards
• 3 pages of printable gift tags
• 4 different printable Christmas cards

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. Micah 7:8