The Lost Art of Stillness

I recently was flying interisland and had to suffer from the effects of a person who did not have the art of stillness. I had noticed this woman while waiting for the boarding process to begin. She just couldn't be quiet. Okay, more accurately, she couldn't shut up! If there was a person even near her she would start a conversation; albeit one-sided for the most part. On the plane it turns out she is sitting behind me, first talking to the flight attendant stationed there, and he quickly moved away.

She then began to talk to herself and also (for my pleasure, I am sure) began a nervous habit of kicking the seat in front of her... my seat.

As the plane fills she then begins to talk to the people next to her and despite their obvious desire just to relax, she continued to talk, asking questions of them, only to interrupt them so she could talk even more, all the while, kicking the seat in front of her. I finally finished counting to 1,000 and turned around, and did actually ask nicely for her to stop kicking my seat.

There was a peaceful silence after that. It actually lasted a full fifteen seconds... that was one of the longest flights I have ever had to endure interisland.

Here are some great scripture to consider:

Psalm 46:10-11 [10] “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
[11] The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Nehemiah 8:11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.


It is interesting to note that perhaps a more direct Hebrew translation for 'be still' is 'enough' or 'be quiet.' Or if I was translating it.... SHUT UP!

In western culture we just don't seem to like things to be quiet, except in an elevator. Otherwise, we call it, "an awkward silence." We just don't seem capable of relaxing and enjoying the simple art of stillness; of being silent.

Now, this has such a negative effect on our walk with God....it's like I am always jabbering away, telling God this and that... He simply wants to tell me things; important things and I just keep yakking away.

Be still, enough, be quiet, Keiger, so that I can tell you the things you need to know.... Be still and just relax, and quit kicking my chair because you are anxious, fearful, impatient, and restless.

When Jesus was aboard the boat in the storm, Jesus says, Quiet! Be still." Isn't that what we should all be saying when the storms of life come our way?

In gaining an understanding of the art of stillness, we need to learn to rest, to be at peace, and to trust. It is interesting to look at Isaiah 40:31, depending on the translation, the one word that is interchanged is "wait." It can also be translated as trust, hope, and of course, as wait. The Hebrew word is actually "qavah"; a prim. root; to wait for:—eagerly waits, expect, expected, hope, hoped, hopefully wait, hoping, look, look eagerly, looked, wait, waited, waited for you eagerly, waited patiently.

In regaining a place of stillness, that is where we will be able to discern the gentle whisper the Lord. Again, some translations call it the "still small voice" of God...even "quiet, gentle voice." If we aren't still, we surely will miss His speaking to us. I don't want to miss it anymore.

Once, a dear friend of mine prophetically spoke, saying, "God seems to love speaking to you when you are vulnerable and soft to Him. Does that mean anything to you?"

I laughed, because this was spoken near the beginning of a period of over four months that God was awakening me at 3:00 AM every day. He was speaking volumes to me during that time, having me praying, interceding and conversing with me in my thoughts...a very powerful time, that He still occasionally awakens me to this day. It was probably when I literally in a place of abiding in stillness (actually in deep sleep, LOL) that He could get a word in.

I know there are a few of us who could learn much from the lost art of stillness.... go on some kind of retreat, fast, or extended prayer time...including listening prayer time, and ask God to take you into the place of abiding in stillness before Him.

Oh yeah, and let us all know how is goes, and what you learn and what insight you gain....


GOD ROCKS!


Keiger