Being Still

β€œDavid, be still!” I heard this a lot as a kid.

Usually it was my dad or two older brothers and all they wanted was for me to stop squirming and be quiet.

In fact, when I was six years old my older brother offered to give me a dollar to be quiet for 15 minutes.

I did so, and was handsomely paid. My mother told him, β€œThat was expensive.” And my big brother replied, β€œIt was worth it, mom.”


Yet, when God says β€œBe Still” He has something more valuable than money in mind.

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 (NIV)

When God asks us to be still, it’s not necessarily because we’re getting on his last nerve. He wants us to press ⏸️ so we can know Him.

God has a purpose (a good one) behind everything He does. But if we’re always in a rush, where is there room for Him to work?

I’ve been mid-prayer before, basically sniveling about something I wanted fixed, when the Holy Spirit said, β€œDavid, be still!”

Ok Lord, I will. 15 minutes for one dollar? πŸ˜‡

Thank you for reading. πŸ™β€οΈprayers and love.

I appreciate you, kind reader!


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51 responses to “Being Still”

  1. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I’m actually downgrading to a phone (for 40 days) that can only make/receive calls and text. Some connectivity is required for my job. It’s going to be a challenge, indeed, but a decision I clearly heard the Lord tell me to make. Thank you, Nancy. I will keep you posted.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Nancy Ruegg Avatar

    I’d be honored to pray for you, David. I’m thinking you’ll be so enthralled in God’s presence, you won’t even miss your phone!!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Please pray for me during Lent, Nancy. I’m taking a major step back from my phoneβ€”which I tend to look at about 6 hours a day. I plan to use the time to seek the Lord.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. davidsdailydose Avatar

    You and me both, Andy B.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Nancy Ruegg Avatar

    Following the recommendations of Ruth Haley Barton in her book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, I’ve sought to be intentionally still, to experience God’s presence and hear his voice. It’s been a worthwhile pursuit over the last ten months, generating numerous journal pages of impressions received–all while sitting still in the Lord’s presence.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    Thanks for this post David

    Yes, being still is such an important discipline…….one that I’m still trying to do if, I could just sit still long enough

    Andy B

    Liked by 1 person

  7. DailyArmorDevotional Avatar

    Yuck…I was fluish in January…probably Covid minus the rotting meat/burning rubber smell that came with the first round…I thought that first one would never end…so glad you are doing well.πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

    Like

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Second time around for me. Back in 2021 I hardly knew I had it. This time was more like a case of the flu. Thankfully it never went down into my lungs and my blood O2 levels stayed normal.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. DailyArmorDevotional Avatar

    So glad that you’re feeling better, that Covid is a nasty animal.πŸ˜΅β€πŸ’«

    Liked by 1 person

  10. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, brother Eric. I apologize for the slow response. I’m feeling much better and spent a whole week back at workβ€”after missing a whole week with COVID.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I think being still, by stepping back from technology, is going to be my focus for Lent. By stepping back, I don’t mean stepping away, but purposely spending less time on my phone. πŸ“±

    Liked by 1 person

  12. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you , Beth. I love the story of runny the match box cars over your brother!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Beth Alisan Avatar

    David, I like the visual of the pause button with the “Be still.” My older brother would come home from football practice so sore he would lay on the ground and pay my younger brother and I (we were probably about 7 and 8 at the time) 25 cents each to run big wheel matchbox cars up and down his back to loosen the muscles. Boy did we think we were getting rich.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Thinking About the Upcoming Lenten Season 2024 – The Devotional Guyβ„’ Avatar

    […] can be a time of being still, as my blogger friend David discusses in his most recent post. Lent is a time that we recalibrate and put God first in our livesβ€”where He rightfully […]

    Liked by 1 person

  15. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Zoomie Zombies! Sounds like a great name for a rock band!

    Liked by 1 person

  16. The Devotional Guyβ„’ Avatar

    A couple of co-workers and I were talking about having to be still during lightning storms. We had to turn off the radio and the television. We couldn’t talk on the phone for fear that lightning would come through the receiver. We had to sit super still. Nowadays, in our age of hurry, slowing down, let alone being still, seems to be seriously be frowned upon. Stillness maybe a good focus for Lent. Good post, David.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. davidsdailydose Avatar

    My sweet wife is the opposite of me, as well, Nicola. She can go all day without looking at her phone. πŸ“± I feel strangely odd if it’s not always within reach.

    Like

  18. seeingliketheeagle Avatar

    A great post as always David. I love seeing your posts in my inbox. I confess to the β€œzoomies” My dear husband is the opposite so often helps me to calm down and relax. Remembering to be still in God’s presence and hearing His heart is precious time indeed. Have a blessed week.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes, a dollar was worth much more back in 1974. I probably bought four candy bars with the money! Thanks for stopping by.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Betty Avatar

    A personal favorite – and so comforting – “Be Still and Know That I Am God.” A dollar was worth a lot more back when you were a kid! πŸ™‚ Thanks for the smiles – along with the inspiration, too!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Bridget Avatar

    Lol, that happened to me with a comment from Rainer a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for the reminder to check my spam!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    Yes. And what a difference it makes knowing that God is always there, going through everything with us.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Alan Kearns Avatar

    That sounds like a good idea David πŸ’‘ πŸ‘

    Liked by 1 person

  24. davidsdailydose Avatar

    The β€œZoomies.” I love it, Sister Super-C! Our devices can easily turn us into Zoomie Zombies!πŸ§Ÿβ€β™‚οΈ

    Liked by 1 person

  25. davidsdailydose Avatar

    You’re welcome, Bridget. Somehow your comment went to my Spam folder. Come on, Word Press!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes, brother Matt. God not only exists, He exists within usβ€”through the redemption brought by Christ. Thank you Holy Spirit!

    Like

  27. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, brother. I am seriously considering giving up at least one of these time killing devices for Lent.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. jesusluvsall Avatar

    Love that God does not only say Be Still, but says Be Still and Know That I Am God. The reason we can be still when troubles come is because God is God and is with us.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Alan Kearns Avatar

    This 21st Century is so noisy, from the time we wake until bedtime there are a host of devices personal and domestic making noises that distract us. In recent times I have found myself switching devices off so that I can be alone with the Spirit; I must say it is a worthwhile exercise indeed. May our Father God lead and bless you in His presence brother David πŸ™ πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²β€οΈπŸ΄

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Bridget Avatar

    I love this post, David! I want to be better about being still in His Presence! I have to be intentional because the busyness of life is a distraction. Thank you for the encouragement.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Ditto everything BG said!

    Liked by 1 person

  32. God Still Speaks Avatar

    God does not want us to have the zoomies! And the peace He give is worth way more than a dollar! 🀣

    Liked by 2 people

  33. DailyArmorDevotional Avatar

    Great post…”It was worth it, Mom.β€πŸ˜‚

    I’ve seen a lot of kids paid off to be quiet and sit stillβ€¦πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

    Thanks for sharing this, it reminds me to wait…and especially in prayer which can be a toe-tapping, hand-wringing endurance event.

    Hope that you’re feeling better, brother.πŸ™

    Liked by 1 person

  34. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Same here. As you no doubted have surmised, relationships are very important to me. Lately, a β€œbe still” opportunity for me is accepting that while key relationships come and go from our lives, the presence of God does not.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Lily. I remain a hyper person, but the years have helped me to learn to be stillβ€”usually. Thank you for reading and commenting. πŸ™His best to you!

    Liked by 2 people

  36. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Joy. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  37. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, Matthew. None of my three sons are as 🐿️ squirrel like as me. It’s wonderful how we mellow and hopefully improve with age. Thanks for stopping by!

    Liked by 2 people

  38. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I love it, Pete! It’s no shame to be silent, especially if you’re a frequent talker to begin with. It’s hard to listen to God, and others, if I’m talking and acting over them.

    Liked by 2 people

  39. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Preparation is at least half of the stillness equation. Agreed, Gary. C.H. Spurgeon has a devotional book called, β€œMorning and Evening.” Lately I’ve found it helpful to build in some stillness at the beginning and ending of the dayβ€”like book ends.

    Liked by 2 people

  40. Matthew Winters Avatar

    This reminds me of my second oldest son. He was bouncing off the walls when he was little. Now that he is older and walking with God, he is growing to understand what it means to be still spiritually. Timely reminder!

    Liked by 3 people

  41. Lily Down to Earth Avatar
    Lily Down to Earth

    That was funny and sweet 😁

    Liked by 2 people

  42. pastorpete51 Avatar

    Boy if I just had your older brother as my babysitter when I was a kid, I’d have quite a financial portfolio! Great post Dave and good reminder for all of us over-talkers, that being silent is neither a sin nor a punishment.

    Liked by 3 people

  43. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    I heard that refrain all the time when I was a child, too!!!
    Often, when I hear the Lord telling me to be still, it is because I am fretting, and am anxiously trying to sort our something I am afraid to leave to God.

    Liked by 3 people

  44. Gary Fultz Avatar

    I find that I have to prepare to be still. I am most still inside when I sit on our back deck early morning with a cup of coffee and my bible. An hour goes by, the coffee is half gone and cold. I have read a few verses which brought me face to face in prayer. A trysting time and place.

    Liked by 3 people

  45. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Big smiles here, bro. πŸ˜€ Thank you and thank you Lord!

    Liked by 2 people

  46. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Priscilla. I was home sick all last week, with unexpected time to seek the Lord. I did, and heard more from Him than usual. 😊 I am thankful you read and commented today, and do so often! God Bless!

    Liked by 2 people

  47. BG Avatar

    I love it when I see your posts on my feed. You are one of the best bloggers I read after! You are such a blessing my friend!

    Liked by 3 people

  48. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, BG. I was a little late to push β€œpost” this morning. Thank you for stopping by, my brother!

    Liked by 2 people

  49. Priscilla Bettis Avatar

    A good reminder in our busy times, David.

    Liked by 2 people

  50. BG Avatar

    Excellent as always! And, I had just thought of you like 5 minutes previously and there you were! Lol πŸ˜‚

    Liked by 2 people

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