Thursday, November 19, 2009

Daily Devotion - Thursday, November 19

Responses from Our Souls

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”

--Psalm 46: 10

“Be still!” we are told. How can we be still?
● There are leaves to rake and very little daylight left when we get home from work.
● There are only 35 more days until Christmas.
● Fall sports are winding down and winter sports are bouncing into our schedules.
● There are extra programs during the holidays and programs mean rehearsals!
● And then there are all the unexpected things beyond this list.

“Be still!” we are told.
● Claiming some centering time each day is a healthy discipline, maybe Islamic prayer disciplines could help us be still.
● Changing the rhythms of our day could be helpful. It is definitely something to contemplate.
● Learning from master teachers can guide us as we seek personal stillness. Henri Nouwen writes in Making All Things New, “We often use the outer distractions to shield ourselves from the interior noises. The confrontation with our inner conflicts can be too painful for us to endure.”

“Be still!” we are told.
● May your day have enough time for you to practice stillness!
● May the stillness be so enjoyable that it becomes a discipline for you.

Prayer: “Guide me to a quiet place, O God. Amen.”

--Ben Keckler
11.19.09

No comments: