September
I am feeling the Lord calling me to “stillness.” It is in my heart and mind over and over. It is echoing through my being. This morning, I had a moment of understanding that God is calling me to stillness on an emotional, physical and mental level. Even in motion, I can be in stillness, because it is all about focus. Focus! What am I focusing on? What is in my heart and mind? While I am feeding the cats and making the bed, what is my mind and soul focused on? I can be focused on all the things my mind stirs up. Or I can focus on the Lord. But it’s more than focusing on the Lord – it’s being with him! Oh yes, it’s being with him. Stillness makes space in us for him. Yes! When we are rushing around, there is no space for him. There is no space for us. In stillness we encounter the Lord, but we also encounter ourselves. Often, we need stillness externally to get to stillness internally.
God is calling me to stillness so that I can know Him. He is calling me to himself. Me! Wow… so amazing. He is calling me deeper into his love. And not just in a general way that we know it is God’s will for all of us. No, he is calling ME. I heard his voice calling me.
He keeps reminding me of the verse, 1John 2:15. “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” The love of the world and the things of the world can completely side-track me. I can literally go a completely different direction than towards and into God. And this is Satan’s big trick to lure me away from going toward God.
I think the world and the love of the world has always been a big problem for the child of God. But it is just gotten bigger and bigger with SO many things to entertain, delight and promise to satisfy us. And then, there’s how deeply unhappy and empty people are these days. The lures of the world are so irresistible.
I John 2 goes on to describe the things of the world in more detail:
- The lust of the eyes
- The lust of the flesh
- The pride of life.
The big question for me is, what is are the things of this world that I need to “love not.” In other words, what things of the world am I loving in a way that is choking out God, that is getting my off-track and derailed. I believe these are the things that are keeping me from stillness with him.
In the last year, I have come to experience that nature, the creation is where there is presence of God and the reflection of his character exhibited a million different ways. My heart is learning to see and hear him in nature. And feel him. I often hear his voice speaking directly to me. He tells me all kinds of very beautiful things. I know I need this so much, to be with the Lord in his creation. But I live an hour away from the mountains. I have felt some frustration over how to make stillness work on a practical level.
And then, my coach Carrie gave a GREAT idea. She suggested that I look for a park or open space that would provide a sense of being in nature with God. Yes! I know that will work. Denver metro area has those kind of places everywhere. I feel this door is now open!