Be still

Posted by seankappauf on Sep 16, 2011 in Christian Life, Christianity | 3 comments

We live in a fast paced society.

Each day meetings, agendas, and other miscellaneous things bombard our schedules.

Whether we know it or not, we have created a principle that says: “Rest is not an option.”

If you don’t believe me look at the current ads on TV: 5 hour energy, coffee, red bull, all of these target the “Rest is not an option” principle.

We apply this principle because at the core we believe that this is how we can achieve great things.

That’s the problem.

In order to achieve great things we need to be working out of rest not restlessness.

But, that’s only half of the equation.

Its not just getting rest it’s where we find our rest as well.

Our rest should always be found in Jesus Christ. 

Thus, our culture has conditioned us to be such busy bodies that when we go to rest it actually isn’t rest, because our mind is still running at 4,000 rpm’s, because we trying to find our rest in the wrong places. The only way to have complete rest is in Jesus. He is our rest.

FINDING REST IN JESUS

There are many different avenues you can take to find rest in Jesus. Taking a Sabbath is one of them. You don’t have to do the Sabbath because Jesus is our rest but it is a great discipline to work six days and rest one. God did it and I think we should embrace that as well.

Another way to find rest in Jesus is through contemplative prayer.

Contemplative prayer is a mixture between vocal prayer (praying out loud) and meditation.

I truly believe that this kind of prayer can allow you to fully rest in the presence of the Lord.

But, it takes time (which isn’t always easy in a fast food culture).

How it works

1. Dim the lights or find a place where there isn’t a lot of light.
2. Sit in a chair and position your back so that you spine is straight. Place you hands on top of your lap and take a few deep breaths.

Once you’ve done that say Psalm 46:10a out loud.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10a)

After you read it, take a few minutes to be in silence.

Again you will recite the verse but take the last word off of the sentence each time and each time you say the verse take a few minutes in silence before you go back to saying it again (sounds confusing, read below).

Here’s how the prayer time works…

Be still, and know that I am God

(take a few minutes to be silent)

Be still, and know that I am

(take a few minutes to be silent)

Be still, and know that

(take a few minutes to be silent)

Be still, and know

(take a few minutes to be silent)

Be still

(take a few minutes to be silent)

Be

(take a few minutes to be silent)

The goal for this exercise is to allow us to shut down all things so that we can become fully present with the Lord.

The last word that you end with, “Be,” is the pinnacle of our relationship with Jesus. We are to “be” with him.

The goal in this life is not “to do” things for Jesus but rather “be” with Jesus.

The more time we spend being with Jesus the more we end up becoming who we are intended to be. 

A relationship isn’t based on doing things for the other person, its spending time with them.

Sadly, so many of us are busy and we end up doing things for Jesus without ever knowing him.

To me that’s a scary place to be

You’ll be amazed that when we spend time being with Christ how naturally we’ll do things we originally wanted to do (ex. loving your neighbor).

May you find rest, in Jesus today.