Be Still - A Simple Practice

“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

We have heard it recited from the Psalms “be still.” This is a verse that I quickly picked up as a child. It was an easy-to-remember-verse and a hard-to-actually-practice-verse. As an energetic, easily distracted, impatient, achieving focused person--I would not claim that it has been one of my favorite “go to” verses as it is a verse that does not come natural for me to practice. I’d rather find God in the active moments like: play, achieve, think, wander, produce!

So, I ask, do I actually need to be still? That seems unproductive and boring. What good is it to be still? 

Now there is a time to be active, but verses like Psalm 46:10 remind us of the necessity to pause, breathe, rest, reset, and tune in. When we look to the life of Jesus, he often retreats to nature and solitary places for silent reflection. What is happening in these quiet and still moments? 

When I study the scriptures and look at some of the spiritual practices of stillness, a common theme I notice is that stillness is a spiritual practice of present moment awareness. In the pause and stillness, we atune. We become deeply aware of our present moment and we build a skill of seeing and knowing--ourselves, others, God, and nature. 

Today, practice stillness and present moment awareness. Take a couple of  minutes to tune into one element of the natural world. If you are able to, go outside and notice the breeze from your porch, the grass on your bare toes, the colors of a flower, etc. If you are not able to leave your home, find an element of the natural world, maybe it is leaves out your window, a photo of nature, or the sound of birds chirping. Spend a couple minutes with this element of nature. Be still. Breathe deeply. Notice your breath. Notice the things you are seeing, feeling, smelling or hearing that typically go undetected. Stick with it. Breathe. Pause. Tune in. 

Finish your time with asking God to open your eyes to know God--to know self, others, and creation. Keep breathing, carrying this practice with you to be present to the world as you move through the day and week.

  • Dottie Oleson