Still

Right now --probably not when you're reading this, but as I'm writing-- the house is still. I am as alone as it gets for me. Mom is out on the deck, enjoying the morning sun. Scott and the girls are out and about. The cat is curled up on a bed and even the dog is sleeping peacefully. Still. Such a wondrous state! I do everything I can not to waste these precious moments of stillness. For instance, in the time it took me to type these first few sentences, the teapot whistled, so I jumped up to make my tea. The dog sensed my movement and decided she must need to go out. Because the dog barked at the door, Mom supposed she should be doing something and came inside. The cat noticed the commotion and is now summoning me to let him down to the basement. Just like that, the house is no longer still, and neither am I. 

Psalm 46:10a says, Be still and know that I am God. The stillness that God is talking about is a "do nothing" kind of stillness. A "wait" kind of stillness. A "watch and see" kind of stillness. But, how is anyone supposed to remain still when so much is going on? How is anyone supposed to remain still when someone around here always needs something? The stillness that comes from God begins on the inside, where His Spirit resides, and works its way out. Obviously, when the smoke detector is screaming or the car is careening out of control or the paint can is tottering toward the new carpet, doing nothing, waiting, watching may not be an option --on the outside-- but inside, our attitude, our fear, our anger needs to take a still kind of approach. Still leaves no room for blame or rudeness or unkindness or unforgiveness. Still leaves no room for controlling the things that belong in God's control. Doing things makes us feel like we're in control. Who doesn't want to feel like they have some sort of control --at least, over their own lives? But, Proverbs 21:31 says, The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. We need to do the things we're told to do and let God do what He does. And He does give us things to do, but when it comes to His work, we need to keep our hands off; and when it comes to His glory, He alone is worthy of it. 

Joni Eareckson Tada, in her book A Place of Healing, asks, "How do we bring God glory in a time of trial or limitation?" I think her answers apply, too, to the practice of being still, of doing nothing because this is God's territory, of waiting and watching to see what He will do:

• Breathe in His presence. Notice Him. Wherever you are, He is there. Take time to look for Him and give Him thanks.
• Don't despise the discipline of the Lord. Endure hardship as discipline. We often think of discipline as punishment, but discipline is about making disciples, pruning and sharpening us, leading us through the fire.
• Stay supercharged. Keep your spiritual tank full. Read God's Word, praise Him, pray, attend worship regularly, fellowship with other believers, have others pray with you and for you, and serve.
• Keep a humble heart. It's not all about you. If you are a believer, your highest goal should be to bring God glory. Relinquish your agenda.
• Maintain a childlike wonder about life. Don't take yourself or your circumstances too seriously. This life is but a vapor and God will give and take away as He sees fit. Find the joy in it.
• Serve wholeheartedly. Service to others takes us out of ourselves. When we serve with gladness, as we are commanded, we will know peace.
• Pour out your all. You can't be still when you are wrestling to keep all the stuff you have; let go! When Jesus is all you have you can rest knowing He will never leave you or forsake you.
• Don't hold back on life. Join the circus. God numbers our days, gives the increase, and decides where we will go. We are not totally, personally, irrevocably responsible for everything. 

Set your sights on bringing glory to Him --especially in the chaos. We cannot know what God will do until we are still.