I’ve had a lot of ideas bouncing around in my head lately for blog posts. Call it a by-product of taking time off, but even though my purpose was to get some extra rest, my mind was still running amok. In a lot of ways this is a really good thing since I need some sort of creative outlet. I think we all do.
Our minds really aren’t meant to be put on hold: there is so much evidence that keeping an active mind leads to staying healthy later in life. It is easy though to take this from being active to busy.
When I was trying to figure out which post to use for today, nothing felt right. And God stepped in. He seemed to be saying, “Not today.”
Because all my ideas are just that: simplistically mine. They come from what I’m learning about God and what I’ve been ruminating on from scripture. It’s almost increased to a fever-pitch level amongst the last two weeks since I’ve been writing again. I’ve written about 7 posts, 3 devotionals, and outlined another chapter for my book. This running away of my mind is halfway ridiculous…
I think I have substituted busy for active and frenzied for thoughtful.
It is easy to get like this. Deadlines, appointments, meetings, goals, check-lists, and progress, all measurable, of course, drive us. It doesn’t matter what stage of life we are in.
None of this is bad in and of itself, certainly, but when the busy-ness starts to detract from what’s important… then it becomes its own idol. It’s ironic that even good things can become idols…
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
I need to be still more. We all need to be still more. This quiet contentment in God means that we lean into Him and worship Him only. It doesn’t mean that we abandon our minds; rather it is about focus. In busy-ness we run the risk of worshiping our culture’s definition of success.
The disquiet of busy-ness is the opposite of peace. And ironically, as I write, my three-year old is singing a version of the song that never ends from his bed so I understand the challenge that finding this peaceful contentment is! But find it we must by building into our lives periods of quiet reflection of God.
The purpose of this needs to be nothing more than being a student of God for His own sake. Not for me to come up with more blog posts, devotionals or book chapters. Not for peace, or to find more margin in our lives. Not to be spiritual and check off a box in our lives. If we do this, then those are the aims instead and more indicative of our desires instead of our relationship with God Himself.
The outpouring of this is worship.
So this is my goal for this year for myself: to be far more intentional about being still and worshiping. I like to set a goal for the year for my birthday and with that coming up this week, I felt like I needed to be less goal-driven. And yes, I do recognize the irony in this!
I know it isn’t easy since most of us have a lot on our plates. I’m going to be praying that God helps us with this since it is so important. And maybe next week, I’ll share one of those posts I’ve already written, that is if God doesn’t put something else on my heart first!
I’d love to hear what you do to build in quiet into your day in the comments! I’m sure that we could all learn from each other’s ideas! Thanks so much for stopping by and hope you have a blessed day!
Uncommon Grace 
I love this. I too have mistaken busy for active and have strayed from being purposeful in the way I spend my time and devote my thoughts. Thank you for this reminder to refocus on what is really important!
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Thank you so much for stopping by, Corinne! This is something I so struggle with! I love how you say devote your thoughts too because it really is about devoting ourselves 🙂 If we don’t choose specifically, doesn’t just anything choose us? Whatever the urgent thing is at the moment becomes king and that isn’t what we want or need. Thanks again!
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I love to take a cup of tea out on my back porch and just enjoy the quiet. Thank you for this very important reminder.
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That sounds lovely, Jolene! I can’t wait to do that too! It has been so cold and is just warming up and just this morning I was thinking of getting my outdoor furniture set up again. You’ve inspired me! Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Yes, I’ve been there–so focused on what I thought I should write about, only to realize it was coming from me, not God. There really is a difference when He leads what I write and when I decide (sometimes unconsciously) to go it alone. I need that reminder from time to time.
Visiting from the #RaRaLinkup today. 🙂
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Thanks so much for visiting, Laura! I’m so glad to connect with you! I definitely agree that we can subconsciously start going it alone. I’ve realized unless I make a daily choice to follow His leading, it can be really hard to do it naturally. So important- thanks for your thoughts!
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I’ve just finished writing a series on prayer, but now am staring at a blank writing calendar. Not sure what to write next but, like you, the ideas are swirling. I’ve been starting each day with a deep, focused prayer time. Sometimes using prayer doodling or praying scripture, which is helping clarify next steps for me. This focused prayer time is helping me be still and listen and have more focused writing time.
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I totally agree about prayer time being clarifying! It seems like things boil down to the heart issue pretty quickly in my conversations with God too. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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I hear this loud and clear! One of the things I love about Holy Week is it is always an invitation for me to slow down, to listen for God and meet with him more often. But this year has been all about the busy. Thanks for this sweet reminder! And may your Easter be blessed!
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Yes! Isn’t it crazy how Holy week ends up being so busy when what we really need is to reflect? I’ve been feeling that pull too. I’m so glad to connect with you, Laura!
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One of my favorite verses, Be Still and know that I am God…because I need it so very often. Thanks for this encouragement, and for bringing it to #RaRaLinkup this week!
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Angela! It is one of my favorite verses too 🙂 I feel like I need to put it up somewhere because in the midst of the craziness that is my three boys and foster daughter, I constantly need it as a reminder!
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