Grateful in the stillness

Sometimes you need to go on a fast from yourself.  No extra talking.  No meaningless conversations. No gossipy phone calls. No unimportant emails.  No selfies.  No scandalous television (shut your mouth!).  Just quiet.  Not necessarily quiet from the outside world, but rather quiet from the voices inside of your head that tell you that you need something or someone else to complete you.

When was the last time that you sat in a room without the television on or radio playing?  Are you the type of person that needs outside stimulation and noise to soothe you?  Or can you just sit there quietly, without getting fidgety?

I think most of us are so accustomed to the noise of the cell phone with the text message, Facebook and email notifications.  We could be having a nice conversation with a friend, then all of a sudden the cell phone makes a noise and we are instantly distracted.

The bible says in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God".   You might be thinking,  what does being still have to do with knowing God?

Let's try an quick exercise.

Take a deep breath.  Inhale and exhale.  Do it again and this time inhale much slower.  Feel the air enter through your nose, be aware as it fills your lungs, opening every alveoli or air pocket within your lungs.  Notice how your chest wall rises and your posture straightens.
KNOW THAT'S ALL GOD!

Now exhale!  Hear the gentle hiss that is released from your body as your chest cavity falls.
KNOW THAT'S ALL GOD!

Open and close your eyes,  feel your lashes fluttering.  Look from side to side and be aware that your eyelids gently slide over your eyeballs without getting stuck.
KNOW THAT'S ALL GOD!

Wiggle your toes!  Flex the muscles in your legs, go ahead and crack your knuckles if you need to.  Thank God for every muscle fiber,  tendon and ligament that is crafted together to help you move and function.
KNOW THAT'S ALL GOD!

Recognize the sounds that you are around you.  Are there birds chirping close by?  Is the ocean swelling?  Is there traffic moving outside? Can you hear construction close by?  Was that just a horn blowing?  Do you hear the kids laughing in the distance?  Thank God for the sound waves that have just entered your ear, causing your eardrum to vibrate, is then transmitted to the brain, which then  translates the sounds and helps us to distinguish whether or not it is a bird, a car or a child.
KNOW THAT'S ALL GOD!

It doesn't take much to recognize God's creation...you just have to stop and think about it.  You are God's reflection, his masterpiece, his special design.  Let us not be so caught up in the noisiness of life that we forget to be quiet and grateful.

Everyday I challenge you to do this exercise for 3 minutes.  Recognize every sound, twitch, movement and flutter.

Just be still and quiet, rest in it, be grateful for it and KNOW THAT IT'S ALL GOD!


Now walk it out.......................