It’s Important to Be Still for Your Faith and Health
Have you ever stopped to consider that God’s command to “be still” is important for both our faith and health?
It’s interesting how the health and medical experts have started stressing the importance of finding time for rest and stillness in our lives.
We shouldn’t be surprised. God told us to take a Sabbath Day of rest way back when He first gave us His Commandments.
He knew that taking time for stillness and rest is essential for us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
But in the 21st Century, most of us find it almost impossible to quiet our lives so that we can enjoy regular time of quiet peace.
Technology, appliances, and entertainment make an excess of noise a constant in most homes, workplaces, and modes of transportation.
In 2011 World Health Organization report stated that noise pollution is a “modern plague,” concluding that “there is overwhelming evidence that exposure to environmental noise has adverse effects on the health of the population.”
And it’s only gotten worse as time’s gone on. You may be able to avoid excess noise whenever possible, but the idea of pausing your overscheduled life for a day or even an hour of stillness seems impossible.
How are you and I supposed to “be still” when we live in a cacophony of sounds with an endless list of commitments?
But God didn’t tell us to be still, unless there are too many distractions or we’re too busy. He invited us to take regular time to SEEK Him in stillness and peace.
We all know Psalm 46:10…
Be still, and know that I am God!
Other translations say…
- Cease striving and know…
- Be quiet and know…
- Calm down and know…
- Let go of your concerns and know…
- Stand silent and know…
- Stop fighting and know…
If we want to KNOW God personally, we need to pause, calm down, let go, and be still.
And the Good News is that the Lord promises a list of physical and spiritual blessings that we receive when we take time to rest and be still.
Stillness Will Bless Your Faith and Health
♥ Stillness Pauses to Live in the Present
It lets go of the past junk and the future concerns to focus on our current blessings.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Isaiah 43:18–19a (NIV)
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
:Lamentations 3:22–23
Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
♥ Stillness Helps Your Mind and Body Relax
It promises better sleep and a stronger immune system. It lowers cortisol by reducing stress, lowering your blood pressure, and improving your ability to concentrate.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
♥ Stillness Calms Your Soul
Being still in the presence of God helps us remember His greatness and our need for Him. It is our time to surrender everything to the Lord and trust His provision.
You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You because he trusts in You.
isaiah 26:3
♥ Stillness Gives You Strength for Hard Days
Pausing to be still and know God’s Truth opens our hearts and minds to the Spirit, who gives the strength we need when life feels overwhelming.
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.
Ephesians 3:16
♥ Stillness Points to Life’s Eternal Perspective
When you and I look at today in terms of eternity, our present problems become less upsetting, and our hope quotient increases exponentially. Days are more manageable when we remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:18
God does not want us to be still to spoil our fun; He wants to bless us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
So let’s pause, pray, and be still…
A Prayer to Be Still and Know God
and Praise Him for Faith and Health
Father God, I sometimes neglect the truth that I was created by You and for You. I get distracted and busy, lost in the noise, and captured by my thoughts and emotions.
I’m sorry, Father. Please forgive me. I know You want so much more for my faith and health. You want me to enjoy the blessing of living my God-given purpose.
You want me to “stop striving” and “be still” … to take time to listen for Your quiet voice in the quiet of Your creation, or a peaceful place in my home. Your Word tells me to SEEK Your TRUTH and PRAY without ceasing.
I often claim to be busy rather than admitting I’ve lived with foolish priorities and poor time management. I’m sorry, Lord. Please forgive me.
Please help me remember to run to You before I fret about the past or future. Help me surrender to You when I need peace and strength. Help me reflect on Your many blessings that give me health today and a future filled with eternal hope.
Thank You for providing for every part of me: today, tomorrow, and always. I Jesus’ holy name, I pray. Amen.
Isn’t our God awesome?
He knows and gives us what we need spiritually and blesses us, making them good for us physically as well. I love that!
Brennan Manning wrote…
“The Christ within who is our hope of glory is not a matter of theological debate or philosophical speculation. He is not a hobby, a part-time project, a good theme for a book, or a last resort when all human effort fails. He is our life, the most real fact about us. He is the power and wisdom of God dwelling within us.”
He is the One who meets us in the stillness, blessing our faith and health, revealing the Father’s love, and showing us how to live for His glory.
So, let’s be still in a quiet corner or the beauty of nature. Let’s SEEK to KNOW and LOVE Him, trusting that He will give us everything we need.
We would love to pray for you.
You can leave your prayer requests here…
and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.
Never Miss an Update
Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning
I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…
Thanks again for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the links below to find additional posts that will bless you…
Stillness…that’s hard to grasp at times and yet I can feel the tension leave my body when I take the time to go for a walk in the woods, sit outside in the morning while I drink my coffee, to unplug from technology, etc. We live in a world that’s constantly striving for our attention and yet God deserves it more than anything. Thank you, Deb. You always get to the heart of the matter. This is a great reminder to SEEK Him above all things.
Blessings, Cecilia
I take the time each day, sometimes multiple times a day, to be still in the presence of God and simply rest in Him. It does make my life happier and healthier, Deb, as it will for all of us who practice this. Blessings!
Jesus Christ…when I spend some time with Him, and my spiritual health is growing, it does seem more than coincidental that my emotional, mental and physical health reap the benefits. I just love walking with Him…He is the beauty, the strength, the confidence and the courage I need to live my life on purpose, with intention, for His glory.