Sit Still More

Will the ringing of that annoying alarm clock help?

I want to learn to worship and to listen more to my Father. I know that listening and worship take time, space, and stillness.

Day-in and day-out I find it very hard to sit still. Through the years, I have generally found my early morning quiet times to be a joy and I have grown accustomed to sitting in silence and stillness those sweet morning hours.

But, the minute that I hop up and the day begins... the stillness of my heart, mind, and my body are quickly in jeopardy! How often do I fall into bed at night exhausted and wondering where my day has gone... and asking how often I spoke to, listened to, or worshipped my Father?

I have been challenged lately to be more proactive in my choice to take moments out of my day, ...more moments...simple, short, purposeful moments..., to worship and pray.

I know that these moments are not easily found... with kids, a home, ministry and a full-time teaching position (at home!)---my life is very full; and yet, the whisper in my heart tells me that these moments can be chosen and savoured. So, I want to try and I want to ask the Lord to help me sit more often at His feet. ...even just a few more minutes every day.

Just yesterday I was reading the Divine Hours by Phylis Tickle. She describes the historical significance of "Fixed Hour Prayer" and I was moved. These men and women-of-old had busy, full and dirty lives... with no modern conveniences! AND, they managed to find time for their fixed-hour prayers. I am not going for law here, of course. But, I am going for rhythm. I am longing for more stillness. I am attempting... deeply desiring... to live a Sabbath life-style. I want to see Sabbath "rest" throughout my day, all day long. In the midst of play and work, I want to learn to walk more and more in the knowledge of God.

If I want to be characterized not by what I do--- but instead by Who I worship, Who I look like, and how I listen to Him---I need to sit with Him more. Eventually exposure insures transformation.

So.... I set the alarm on my kitchen clock today. Will it help? It rang at 11:00 AM and again at 4:30 PM. I let it keep ringing (annoyingly, may I add!) until I plopped down in a corner chair.

Today, I choose a few times to sit down for, I don't know, 3 minutes... was it 5 minutes? And, I worshipped.

I think it might help. I think it might work.

All human evil comes from a single cause, man's inability to sit still in a room. All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in quiet room alone.-Blaise Pascal

Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue. Gods voice in response to mine is its most essential part.- Andrew Murray