Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7
After I’d gotten settled into the chamber, my body floating comfortably above the water, the room went dark and the gentle music that had been playing in the background went silent. I’d read that isolation tanks were therapeutic, offering relief for stress and anxiety. But this was like nothing I’d ever encountered. It felt like the chaos of the world had stopped, and I could clearly hear my innermost thoughts. I left the experience balanced and rejuvenated, reminded that there is power in stillness.
We can rest most comfortably in the stillness of the presence of God, who renews our strength and grants us the wisdom we need to tackle the challenges we face each day. When we’re still, silencing the noise and removing distractions in our lives, He strengthens us so we can hear His gentle voice more clearly (Psalm 37:7).
While sensory deprivation chambers are certainly one form of stillness, God offers us a simpler way to spend uninterrupted time with Him. He says, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6). God will guide our steps and allow His righteousness to shine brightly through us when we seek the answers to life’s challenges in the stillness of His magnificent presence (Psalm 37:5–6).
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
INSIGHT
- What are some things that consume your time?
- How can you make more room for quiet time with God?
According to James 3:13, “humility”—in contrast to “envy and selfish ambition” (v. 14)—is at the core of wise living. Comparing the description of earthly wisdom in verses 14–16 to heavenly wisdom in verse 17 is like moving from earth’s dark shadows into heaven’s brilliant light. In verse 17, seven characteristics of heavenly wisdom are noted: it’s pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, impartial, and sincere. These things could well represent what was lacking among James’ readers. Like smaller stones that surround the major relational stone of humility, James lists attributes that describe God’s wisdom and contribute to relational harmony and wholeness. These qualities are comparable to those produced by God’s Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22–23.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I know I get caught up in the fast pace of life. Help me to be still, making room for You in everything I do. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: PSALM 37:5-7 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: PROVERBS 13-15; 2 CORINTHIANS 5
