“…That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
1 Timothy 2:2

I was listening to Joyce Meyer this morning and she talked about her necessary “chair therapy.” She said she used to work right up until bedtime and she wondered why should couldn’t sleep at night. She talked about her “new rule.” She said after about 6 or 7 she takes no calls and takes time for her alone/relax time — this is the principle of “chair therapy.”

I’ve always enjoyed reading authors from times past. When Rose Wilder Lane wrote about her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder, she said her mother commented on how fast the pace of life had become in the late 1800’s. (Lane 203-208)

Wow! I believe that the pace of life accelerates largely because our sphere of influence accelerates — part of the maturation process.

We must have intentional rest.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

We hear this verse, but we often hear it as a cry to be lazy. That is not the point at all! Sometimes we’re so busy —

• busy because of a lack of faith?
• busy because we want to take credit for the things happening in our lives?
• or busy because if we’re quiet we’ll have to face ourselves?

My goodness, just sit down and breathe a minute!
One of the major themes of Ecclesiastes is that there is a time for everything. There is a time for work — and a time for rest.

How about a time when we’ve done all we can do and we need to sit still and let God handle it?

“The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.” Exodus 14:14

But sometimes we’re busy because we’re caught in a maelstrom of problems, emotions, or just a mess of our own making. Although we may think Jesus is asleep – he is never unaware! Just as when the disciples were in the boat in Mark Chapter 4 and thought they would drown — they woke Jesus up in a panic! What did Jesus do?

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:39

He calmed the storm.

He told everything to be quiet and still. (They go together.)

Why did Jesus go out in the mornings alone on the mountain to pray?

To be still.

“Chair therapy” is fine — but if it is done with clicker in hand and Almond Joy in mouth it doesn’t really count as the stillness of our Saviour.

Pick a time and place today to be alone. “Life” isn’t slowing down–if the pioneers were stressing out — my goodness how about us! In order to draw from deep peaceful springs of a soul at rest with Christ, we must take time in solitude to pray and read our Bible.

We say we think it is important but every day we don’t — we show by our actions that we do not believe it is important. I too am guilty and humbled. I want to put my money where my mouth is? Will you?
______________
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lane, Rose Wilder. Laura: The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Chicago: Harper Collins Publishers, 1976.

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