I sat there on my back porch. It was quiet and soft and misty on a peaceful morning in the country. But I was so uncomfortable. I was fidgety and distracted, thinking of all the things I needed to do that day. I couldn’t believe I was having such a hard time being still after all this time.
I had made a commitment this particular week. (You can read about it HERE.) Each day I was going to work on consistently spending a few minutes in complete stillness and quiet, away from all distractions, just being with God. Although I was consistently studying His word and praying, I found that being completely still before Him was very difficult for me.
I was frustrated with myself. For heaven’s sake, I was writing to encourage other women in prayer and quiet time, and yet I was still having so much trouble with parts of that myself.
Inside the stillness, I realized I had taken busy right into my prayer life. I had gone into my quiet times so focused on the tasks that I should be doing during that time that even there I had neglected the importance of stillness and quietness before God.
It was a hard concept for me to grasp. I had been trying so hard to slow down in other areas of my life, that I had entirely missed the most important one!
I had a couple of choices that day. I could take this new realization and berate myself for not being further along in letting go of busyness, or I can see it as a gift, a transformation point, the beginning of a new perspective. I choose the latter and thought on this verse:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
In Romans 12:2, the word transformed comes from the Greek word metamorphoó which means “change after being with.” You may also recognize that this Greek root word is also where we get our English word, metamorphosis.
The word renewing in this verse comes from the Greek word anakainósis which means “completing a process, to make fresh and new.”
If we combine those two key words we find that God is telling us to spend time with Him so that He can help us complete a process that will lead us to fresh and new ways of thinking.
Consider the changes that happen inside a cocoon before the butterfly emerges. The change happens over the course of several weeks, in a hidden and quiet place, so slowly that it can not be observed from the outside. A caterpillar, through a specific growth process and through the power of its creator God, is changed into a beautiful butterfly.
It is much the same in our own lives. If we remove ourselves from daily responsibilities and distractions and spend time alone with God in the stillness and quiet, we are making room in our lives for changes that need to happen. God will do this in the hidden places of the heart.
What God brings forth in the stillness is a gift. It’s an opportunity to begin a growth process that leads to new perspectives and a renewal of the mind.
Sometimes this kind of renewal and transformation comes soft and easy like the warm spring breezes that crossed my porch that day. More often, it will come to us under much more difficult circumstances.
Regardless, we have a responsibility to answer this high calling.
Let’s make a commitment to step out of being busy and let’s find a few short minutes of quiet in our lives. Let’s spend those moments in stillness before God. For a few minutes today, let’s spend time being instead of doing.
If we will, we’ll find that there is room for God to show us areas we need to work on, and by His power, our minds can be renewed and our perspectives will be in the better places.
What God brings forth in the stillness is a giftClick To Tweet For a few minutes today, let’s spend time being instead of doing. Click To TweetBlessings,
Leslie
Focus Verse
Romans 12:2
If you click on the verse reference above you will be taken to Bible Gateway where you can find other study helps to further your understanding of this passage.
Let’s Talk
Do you have a hard time will stillness like I do? If so, will you make a commitment to join me this week in finding those quiet places where we can work on spending time just being with God?
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, We ask you to help us today. It is so hard to stop, to let go of our responsibilities, to get away from all the distractions for a few moments so that we can be still before You. We ask you to clear our minds and help us begin to find you in the stillness and quiet. Open our hearts to what you may be showing us there. Give us courage to follow through, to take what we find and begin to pray over it and work through it. Guide us and lead us always toward You in all areas of our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.
The post, When Being Still is Uncomfortable, A Different Perspective, first appeared at Journey to Imperfect.
This post may be linked in other encouraging places. Click HERE to find out where!
Leslie – I am so sorry, it has taken me almost a whole week to stop by and comment from #TuneInThursday linkup last week. I was away at a Conference since last week and the wifi was practically non-existent.
I too sometimes am uncomfortable in the stillness and silence as I wait on God. I think I am anxious at what I might hear, or not hear. I love the Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote!
Again thank you for linking up last week, and I hope to see you tomorrow at #TuneInThursday
Hi Debbie, No worries at all! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by. I was just over at #TuneInThursday and appreciate you sharing your space! Have a lovely weekend!
Leslie, how many times have I brought my business into my prayer time. Stillness is a gift. A friend said this week the Lord told her, “Shhh. I’ve heard you. I have something to say to you.” I love that. Sometimes we have to be quiet to receive His gifts.
Debbie, Thanks for letting me know that. It is hard to write about things I struggle with. It’s good to know I’m not the only one that has done that. I love what you shared about your friend. We do have to be quiet to receive His gifts. Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting!
This makes me smile at myself because I can do this, too: “I had gone into my quiet times so focused on the tasks that I should be doing during that time that even there I had neglected the importance of stillness and quietness before God.” My to-do lists can squeeze in anywhere. Thanks for the reminder to let God have HIS agenda for me, not always me for him.
I’m glad I’m not alone, Lisa. It’s hard to admit where I wrestle around so much, so it’s always encouraging to know my struggles are real and others deal with the same. God is good! He helps us through!
It’s so easy to forget that stillness is an option sometimes, isn’t it? I’m got a lot of extra on my plate this week, and feel like there’s a definitely a lack of stillness. Thanks for the reminder to “be,” Leslie. ((xoxo))
It sure is, Brenda. Thanks, for reading today. : ) Hugs!
Thanks for admitting that being still doesn’t always easily. It is a choice, and it is a process- which means step by step, moment by moment.
I like the post-scripts at the end of your articles for prayer, scripture, talk awhile. It’s nice touch that allows the reader to linger and feel like a friend!
Thank you for the nice comments, April. I appreciate it very much! Thank you for reading today!
Leslie, I recently self-published a book on Lent, 40 Days of Lent. As I finished it up and prepared for my own Lenten disciplines I asked the Lord what HE wanted me to do. He emphatically told me He wanted me to get on my knees every single day and pray – I told Him, “But Lord, my knees are not good.” He said, “You kneel, I’ll take care of the knees.”
I cannot even tell you how difficult this has been for me – and I confess I have missed many a day but when I do it? It is sweet and pure. I don’t even pray long prayers, I just kneel before Him and chat or listen. No wonder that’s what He told me to do – and Satan throws every obstacle my way to keep me from getting on my knees.
Hmm. Great post.
Thanks for reading and commenting today. You are so right. Satan throws every obstacle he can think of at anyone who is praying. I’m glad you stopped by today. : )
I also struggle with a brain that flits from topic to topic. Keeping a piece of paper and pen handy when I’m trying to pray and read my Bible helps me to just dump those thoughts out of my brain and keep on task. Also, I carry writing tools when I’m on my walk in case I think of something that I know I’ll forget . . .
Those are great ideas! I never thought of carrying something to write with while I walk. Blessings!
Leslie, love the title of your blog! It could be a title for my journey. thanks for this post, reminding us of the benefit of being still so we can be changed and renewed. It will not happen all at once, but slowly over time. My favorite place to be still when it is warm outside is on my swinging bench. It so helps my mind to get out of the house and away from things I see need doing. There is also something about being in nature and hearing the birds and seeing the plants and flowers.
Thank you, Theresa! I think the blog title fits a lot of us. I totally agree with what you said about being out in nature. It’s my favorite way to spend time with God, too. : ) Blessings!
I visited a butterfly pavilion at the Desert Botanical Gardens this weekend, where they had chrysalises on display–if butterflies can go through such an amazing an amazing transformation, just think of the potential in my life :). I love having my quiet and still time in the mornings. Even better if I can get outside with a camera and look at creation through a different lens–there’s something spiritual about looking through a macro lens at a butterfly’s eyes and pondering the creativity and ingenuity of the creator.
So true, Anita. I’m doing a book study on Michele Cushatt’s book, I Am, and she talks about humankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation. So we think of how majestic or intricate or beautiful His creation is and we are even more beautiful in His eyes. And yes, it’s a pretty amazing transformation that can happen inside us as we understand how He loves us. I love it that you pointed out all that potential! And I love macro lenses, too! Blessings!
it’s hard for me, too – always thinking! it doesn help me to keep a notepad handy and jot down what comes to mind when it comes to mind – to do LATER. sigh. I’m sure I’m part ADHD but I too teach on this and it’s the only way to go and grow – you might like last week’s to do printables on welcomeheart.com blessings!
Hi Sue, I’ll check those out! I use a notepad, too during my QT’s. It helps me clear my mind when it is all cluttered (which is most of the time. 😆)
In the stillness, we are making room for the change that needs to happen. LOVE that. Often times, stillness feels meaningless, especially when there are a thousand things to do, but you are right with this! Thank you so much for the encouragement here 🙂
Yes, Nicole, that being still thing is a gold mine if we can make ourselves do it. Thank you for your kind words and for reading today! Blessings!
We do take busy into our prayer life! Such a good reminder to be silent and rest in the Lord. Thank you for writing. Visiting from #momentsofhope
I’m glad I’m not the only one, Angela. It felt discouraging to understand I was doing that, BUT God is good to show me things I need to work on! And laying aside the discouragement and looking at it as a gift really helped me! Thanks for reading today!
Visiting from Moments of Hope. Thank you for this very encouraging post. I do have a great deal of trouble being still. And I, like you, get frustrated with myself. I love the way you put the definitions of renewing and transformed to give us something so practical for life. I am putting some of this in my journal so I can review it often. Thanks so much. May your soul be refreshed as you are renewed and transformed in your stillness with the Lord.
Cheryl, It’s a blessing to me that you had take-aways to put in your journal. Thank you for letting me know that! Thank you for reading today. Blessings!