The life of a Christian is one of getting to know who God is and then, from that context, who we are as revealed in His word. Knowledge of both hinges on this state of being: stillness.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10-11
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
I’ve been slowly studying through the Still devotional by Illustrated Faith, which is based on Psalm 46, since August. What follows is a recap of the life-changing lessons on stillness that I’ve learned during this time.
1. Be still and listen
We’re made to be in relationship with God; Christ died so that it could be so. An important part of any relationship is the act of listening. We know that God hears our prayers and that He knows our thoughts before we speak. He has also provided His word so that we would be familiar with His thoughts.
Now then, it’s important to spend time seeking to hear from God, and listening to hear what He has to say as we walk with Him. I share more on that in this post here: Be still and listen.
2. We have the courage to be still and have peace in chaos
The Christian life, or just life in general on this earth, is not an easy one. While there is beauty that reflects our Creator, and much joy to be had because of His presence with us, that is tempered by many hardships in a post-Fall world.
However, God tells us repeatedly to be courageous and to not fear. In His word, we see that we have many reasons to live with peace no matter what we face. I share more on that in this post here: Courage to be still and find peace in chaos.
3. Create the space needed to live unhurried
Taleah (the author of the devotional) encourages us to make space in our schedules to be intentional about nurturing our relationship with God. She asserts that taking the time to be still is an act of faith because it shows that we trust God to essentially keep the world spinning. The lesson for me from this session is to live a life that is “unhurried”.
An unhurried life is one that is steady and purposeful; not one that is lived at a rushed, anxious, or stressful pace. We can see such a life depicted in the example given to us in the life of Jesus Christ.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will
John 6:38
but the will of him who sent me.
An unhurried life is available to us when we simply seek to do His will. By his strength, we can do so with joy. I share more on that in this (YouTube) video here: Live Unhurried | Creating Space to Be Still.
4. Be uninhibited and unhindered in thanksgiving
In this session, Taleah encourages us to infuse our devotional time with gratitude. She describes gratitude as a recognition of God’s constant presence in our lives, fostering a focus on the present, and a continual acknowledgement of His influence.
We should be uninhibited in this. We can come before God and worship as we are, sincerely and honestly, because of Christ. However, at the same time, we have to be conscious of what is pleasing to God in our worship and see how He actually leads us in worship each day.
let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe
Hebrews 12:28
Gratitude is a very important practice for us as Christians to exemplify a joyful life to the world. Therefore, we should also be unhindered in this because we are commanded to rejoice always regardless of our circumstances.
Our true act of worship is in being a living sacrifice. It’s in living a surrendered life that puts God on display. It’s in our joyful submission to His will because of our love for him, our trust in him, and our delight in Him and all He’s given.
I share more on that in this (YouTube) video here: Acceptable Worship.
5. We have the faith needed to live unburdened
We are not meant to carry the burdens that come from life in this world. Taleah reminds us in this session that God is our burden bearer. She urges us to surrender those things that weigh us down. To entrust them into His capable hands, and then resist the urge to pick them up again.
One of the burdens I focused on during this session is relational pain and hurt which I tend to hold onto. I’m learning to release those burdens by practicing forgiveness which is a vital part of our faith. I share more on that in this post here: Learning to forgive.
6. We have the strength needed to live unharried
Unharried means to be free from harassment and not beset by problems. To not exist in a state of being stressed, panicked, or overly preoccupied with hardship.
In the final session of the devotional, Taleah reminds us that God is always listening to our prayers and He is committed to answering them. She encourages us to incorporate the practice of reflection and journaling into our quiet devotional time. Doing this builds a record of God’s faithfulness which can be a great source of encouragement to us over time, as well as deepen our faith and sensitivity to God’s voice.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:17, 19
Despite the trouble that scripture tells us we are certain to encounter in this world, we are not alone in facing them. Our God has promised mighty help and He stands ready to move on our behalf. Yet, many of us, including myself, do not live like this promise is true.
I share more about the faithless ways we can respond to trouble, and the strength that is available to us, in this (YouTube) video here: Strength to face life’s troubles.
Conclusion
It’s clear from this recap that there have been several “un” words in my takeaways from this devotional – unhurried, uninhibited, unhindered, unburdened, and unharried.
I didn’t choose these words. They are what came to my mind as I read the devotional for the first time and I think there’s a reason for the “un”. It signifies a contrast that shows something different. It’s a call for change; to move in a different direction. Now that you know that this is life to which we are called, right now on this side of heaven, how will you choose to live differently today?
It takes humility and trust to be still. The courage, faith, and strength that is required for us to live this way comes from God and the promise that He is with us!
You can find the full YouTube playlist of videos here: Be still and know | Psalm 46.
The author of the Still devotional is Taleah Sanders who is @chasonolives on Instagram.
The physical devotional kit by Illustrated Faith is no longer available. However, the digital version of the devotional can be found here: Still Devotional (digital). Related journaling products can be found here: Still products, or by searching for “still” on the Illustrated Faith website.
