One of the most valuable things I learned early in my Christian walk was how to be quiet and still before the Lord. How to rein in my out of control mind and thoughts because I had heard that God speaks to people. And that became something I had to have! I wanted to know His voice. I wanted to hear Him speak, discern between His voice and my own. I spent a lot of time learning how to quiet my surroundings and mind. Once I was able to, I started to journal and learned how to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through my fingers. I did this for years and years……

Then I fell away. 

When the storm hit, hearing Him speak was more valuable to me than air. I became desperate for comfort and security. I needed to know I was not alone in this and I also needed Him to help stop the condemnation and guilt that was crushing me. Taking time to be still and hear Him helped me more than anything else. I wrote everything down He said and later, when things were bad, I used what I had written to keep me strong in HOPE.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; Psalm 37:7 ESV

Yesterday was busy, hectic for me. It was not until almost midnight when I finally quieted all the noise and went to talk to Him. The first thing He said, “I’ve been trying to talk to you all day, but I won’t talk OVER your noise. I won’t compete to get your full attention.” 

Often we have a very loud, busy, distracting life. We very much want to hear God’s will and direction, hear and feel Him for love and comfort, but we are not willing to quiet the noise and we expect Him to speak up, to speak louder and compete for our attention. I personally will hear Him speak when I am washing dishes, vacuuming and mopping the floor. Driving, showering, sitting in the car loop. I also sit on the patio with my feet in the pool. These are the times I have learned to quiet my mind and invite Him to share with me instead of figuring out what to make for dinner.

Finding quiet time is not hard. It can be made into your most wonderful time a day. Take a walk with Him. Find a place that helps you connect with Him, but it must be easily accessible every day. 

My quiet time with God was in ADDITION to my self-reflection, prayer time, intercession time for my spouse, worship time. And no, I did not do all of these things every single day. Many times I had to have a good long cry, talk to Him, pour out my feelings and emotions. Yell, vent, complain …get it all out of my system before I could be still and just try and listen.  It was a very special time, even though it was ugly and painful pouring all that out. His patience knows NO LIMITS!

These times of no distraction, if you are not used to them, can make you very uncomfortable. You may squirm and just not know what to do with yourself. Your mind will have a mind of its own and run with what to add to your grocery list, the forgotten load of laundry in the washer, what to make for dinner, etc. Start out with a few minutes and build up. Learn how to capture every thought and not let them distract you. You need to be in control and not letting your mind control you. 

Learning to wait and be still brings the promise of being renewed and lifted ABOVE the problems. Doing it with a good attitude will increase our walk with Him, even if we don’t hear Him speak. You are being still and spending time with Him.

But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 BSB

Having a still quiet mind has become part of my prayer, worship, and meditation time. Being incorporated into my time with God. Many times we come full speed in worship, praying, pouring it all out, but never learn how to listen and wait for Him to respond. That is crucial. It is a two-sided conversation. One that is going to require patience!

when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6

Standing with you,
Sheila Hollinger

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