He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  Psalm 23:2 (NLT)

Yes, this is a familiar Psalm. When I was a child, it often hung on the walls of nurseries, the walls of Sunday school rooms and other places where children could be found. Thinking back brings a sense of peace.

As I’ve been investigating the concept of sitting still before the Lord daily, I realize he is using this time to feed me, to provide sustenance that I need. My mind and my body desire action or activity that is what we have been trained to crave in this digital age. We grab our phones when we have a moment free, or often we multitask doing more than one thing, with the phone always at the ready.

Sitting still and staying away from all input but what God provides can be difficult. But, in my experience, it is fulfilling. God knows what I need, and he’s been providing it. I find that this peaceful time, which I aim for at the beginning of my day is setting a new tone. This is not time reading my Bible; this is not time spent in prayer, this is time sitting with God and just keeping my mind on him.

As I studied the 23 Psalm, I learned that sheep do not like to drink from moving water. They only like to drink from still water, so a good shepherd provides precisely what they need. Nourishment, in the way that is best for them. You might say tailor-made.

My time of stillness and quiet before the Lord is not likely to look exactly like yours. It doesn’t need to. But I find as I give what I can offer, God fills in the edges. I scoot over a bit toward the edge that calls to me, and he draws me deeper into the space where he knows my soul will thrive. 

Benefits

As said, there is no need for sameness, but to share a few benefits, I’m finding: 

• I am becoming more eager for our quiet time together each day.
• My prayer time seems to be deepening.
• By eliminating the distractors that I struggle with, like my phone, first thing, I’m able to distance myself from this distraction more throughout the day.
• I think I need a second time of quiet with God at the other end of my day. Yes, writing those words is a bit like saying it out loud! My prayers at the end of the day I believe should be preceded by a quiet time. Just telling you here to make me accountable.

I’m learning to come to my shepherd without an agenda. To just offer my life and my time and see where God will use it each day. I can not begin to tell you the sense of freedom that is accompanying this change I’m pursuing!

Does that mean I never have plans or appointments? No, of course not. What it does mean is that I’ve had God’s assistance in formulating my plans and I am allowing God to fill the margins of my life instead of grabbing a quick technology fix. Oh, I still struggle with the lure of my phone, but I’m learning that it’s a tool, not a taskmaster.

Questions I’m Asking

I’m starting to ask myself questions like:

• What if instead of getting out my phone I pray for the people sharing this waiting room with me? 
• What if I strike up a conversation with the person nearby? (I’m an introvert we have to talk ourselves into these things.) 
• What if I just sit here and take a breather?

If you have not made an effort to offer God a few minutes of sitting quietly at his feet each day think about it. You don’t have to start big. It might be a five-minute investment in the morning. But my God can take what we offer and multiply the outcome. 

I’d love to hear what you are learning or have already learned from time spent quietly in the Lord’s presence. Share below or send me a note if you’d like to encourage me. Or, let me know how I can encourage you.