stillness – Davids Daily Dose

I remember the moment vividly. It was an early summer morning and dad and I were working together outside, using a wheelbarrow to haul rocks and dirt.

All of a sudden, we heard a tremendous buzz. I looked up and the sky was filled with bees–thousands of them! They were flying together like a giant morphing blob in the sky.

Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash

Every instinct told me to run. But, sensing my fear, dad took my arm. “Hold still, son.” Sure enough, the bee swarm passed us by. It probably took a full minute for them to clear the sky!

Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

According to bible scholars, King David wrote these words while under great personal and political stress. And things had been that way for years.😬

It’s hard to be still when your life is a constant chaotic mess. Pandemonium and peace don’t necessarily mix. But stillness–somehow, some way–is a better choice.

Can you picture David as a young shepherd, sitting on a hillside watching his father’s sheep? Maybe he played his harp there and sang songs to the Lord. Or did he just listen–to the wind, and the birds, and to God?

Today, may we find the courage to hold still a minute longer. To know God, no matter what comes swarming through our lives.

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.

Hearing God in the Stillness

The chapel where my wife and I attend worship was built in 1935. Constructed in the Neo-gothic style, it resembles a smaller version of a Western European cathedral. And like any old building, it has a unique personality. As a musician, I used to enjoy the quirky sounds our little chapel made. The creaky floor boards in the choir loft were my favorite.

But the powers that be decided to install a fancy geo-thermal heating and air-conditioning system in the building. One with a fan motor that runs 24/7. And the incessant drone of moving air–through the vents in the sanctuary–totally ruined the audio ambiance!

But this past Sunday a miracle occurred! Someone switched the HVAC fan to run on a cycle. You can hear the church building again-creaky floor boards and all!

I sat there in the choir loft before the worship service, soaking in the silence. Then it came to me in a moment of sudden insight: “It’s so quiet you can hear God!”

How many times in life does the “white noise” of the world drowned out His still, small voice? All the screens in my home practically scream, “Pay attention to me!” Then there’s the miniature slot machine in my pocket.📲 Some still call it a phone. Yet it’s far more addictive than the kind that once sat on a little table.☎️

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

Stillness does not come naturally to me. I’ve always been a bit of a squirrel.🐿. I savor quiet contemplation with God, but find I must carve this time out if it’s going to happen.

For the past forty or so years–since I was a teenager–I’ve consistently spent time with God at the beginning of every morning. The first hour of the day, it’s just Him and me. I read scripture and devotional thoughts, spend time in prayer, and jot down my impressions.

Incidentally, I found the Lord’s prescription for hearing Him better: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”— Isaiah 30:15 (NIV) The Israelites of that time didn’t listen; but you and I know better.

What is your practice for spending quality time with God? I’d love to hear about it! Please share in the comments, if you’d like.

🙏❤️ prayers and love.

Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels.com. This isn’t my church, but it looks similar.