Be Still and Know That I Am God...Psalm 46:10.

This has been one of those verses that won't go away.  ☺ That's a good thing.  I need this reminder OFTEN!  It's easy for me to get into the busyness of life or to become distracted.  It can be hard for me to simply be still.  Much harder sometimes for me to simply "be". 

Ever since we made bookmarks at a women's night a good handful of years ago and I felt led to put this verse on my bookmark, I have been on a journey to "be still".  I've written about my "be still" mug and posted a picture of it. (May 23, 2011)

Recently, at the 2 year bilingual academy, I found one of those small cards you can give away at the Cokesbury bookstore on site at the retreat center.  It had a spa-like atmosphere along with the verse.  It said "ahhhhhh!" to me.
 

It now rests above my computer so I can see it daily.  So, between the card and my coffee mug, hopefully I'll get the message.

If not, just this week I've learned a new way to allow this passage to help me live it out.  I'm facilitating an online lay-speaking course through BeADisciple.com and I have some of the most wonderful participants in this workshop!  I am blessed to be part of this journey.

One of the participants, Karen Straut, passed along this suggestion she had learned from a pastor many years ago.  Start by saying the entire verse ("Be still and know that I am God").  Then, repeat the verse, dropping off the last word.  Continue until you get to the last word.  Karen said: "It is a wonderful way, I think, to become focused on God and to quiet oneself when feeling a little stressed."  I agree.

It looks like this:

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I

Be still and know that

Be still and know

Be still and

Be still

Be

Hmmm... as I look at that inverted pyramid, I wondered.... what if then, you were to start over with "be" and add a word each time, culminating with the entire verse?

What would that look like?

Be

Be still

Be still and

Be still and know

Be still and know that

Be still and know that I

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I am God.

Hmmm... that looks like a pyramid.  Now, if I were to put them both together, what would I have?

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I

Be still and know that

Be still and know

Be still and

Be still

Be

Be

Be still

Be still and

Be still and know

Be still and know that

Be still and know that I

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I am God.

An hourglass!  Cool!  Maybe if I were to go through the entire process, I will have regained my focus and stillness. 

Another suggestion in the class was to incorporate this verse with breathing.  I have used this verse as a breath prayer before and it is a perfect length. 

Thank you to the participants of the workshop for getting my brain going. ☺ Now, to take some time and to implement this new knowledge.

I hope that you find to "be still" and to "be" in your journey!  If you have other ways that you use this verse in your journey, please share!

Blessings on your journey!

~Debra

Be Still... [updated]

How hard is it for you to be still?  It can often be excruciating for me. :)  In my daughter's taekwondo classes, often at the end of class the instructor has them be still.  They are to be still for several minutes.  To help them focus, he tells them to quietly say to themselves something to the effect of "no talking, no moving".  [I can't remember the exact phrase at the moment.] 

Having a short phrase to focus on does help one to focus on "being still".  When I attempt to be still, that's when my brain is attacked by every chore I had forgotten to do.  People, places, things fly through my thoughts.  One of my short phrases (for several years) has been: "Be still and know that I am God".  Psalm 46:10

It is becoming more important for me to make time to quiet my mind and body, to be still, to create space to listen.  I find that when I go several days without this practice, I can tell that I need it.  Not only do I need it mentally, but physically.  Be still.

Be still.

Be still and know.

Be still and know that I am God.

This verse is one that I've been camping out with for several years and don't foresee my graduating from it.  I may add others to my quiet time to change things up, depending on where I am at the moment, but the need and desire to "be still" will always be a part of my journey. 

How are you doing with being still on your journey?  What do you do to help you "be still"?   Besides the short phrase, there are lots of things that one can use for a visual focus-- candle, art, religious icons, cross, etc. 

In your still time, are you able to listen?  That is the goal of becoming still.  To quieten ourselves so that we can hear our Creator speak. 

Sometimes, as with human relationships, there may be no words.  It is enough to be in the presence of the other in silence.

May your journey include times of silence as you become still and know...

~Debra

PS-- Here is a photo of a mug I bought on a family trip to Little Switzerland, NC in July of 2009.  It is hand-made by Jane Willis, a local potter and substitute teacher. 
 

UPDATE: (May 25)

I've heard this song before and heard it again this morning on the radio.  It's by Stephen Curtis Chapman--"Be Still and Know".  Sometimes, music helps me be still.  This song ministers to my thirsty soul.

Link to listen with video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C01lLxEo3xM&feature=related

Lyrics:

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God

Be still; Be speechless

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know He is our Father
Come rest your head upon His breast
Listen to the rhythm of His unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still, Be still