Be Still

"Sorry, I've just been so busy!" It's a phrase that rolls off the tongue. We're so used to saying it! Busy doing what, exactly? Usually, it's just the same as everyone else: handling our responsibilities, working, studying, eating and sleeping.

Sometimes, amidst all the busyness, we push God out of our lives.

We've all had those mornings: we snoozed our alarm one too many times, leapt out of bed into the bathroom (I hope), worn our go-to outfit and bolted out of the door. We sprint for the bus, jog to our train platform, squeeze onto a packed train and bolt out of the station to the workplace. There it is. Another morning without prayer. Unfortunately, for some of us, this routine becomes the norm.

If there were more hours in a day, we tell ourselves that life would be different, however, God gives each of us 24 hours. What we do with this time really matters! Our actions turn into patterns. These patterns form our lives and can affect our destiny. We cannot live God's best life for us if we do not spend time with Him. Believe it: God has BIG plans, so we need to be bigger and bolder in our faith. 

A few years ago, I started to feel insecure about my spiritual progress. After being born into a Christian home, I felt that I should have been more like Jesus. I felt that I was underperforming in the faith. I read my Bible on Sundays, Wednesdays and when I could. I prayed when I felt like it and barely acknowledged The Holy Spirit as my Helper (John 14:26).

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16:13)

I wanted to hear from God clearly and to develop the gifts of the Spirit. I wanted to be an extension of God's hands and feet on the earth. I wanted all this but I was unwilling to spend more time with God. There was a niggling voice in my head that told me I was too young to desire such things. Pursuing God in this way would make me a hyper-religious "God fanatic". Eventually, I would turn into an out-of-touch Aunty figure who spends her spare time lecturing younger people about God as they contemplate ways of avoiding me in the future! 😄

It is the will of God that we pray, read the Word and take time out to hear His voice. By His grace, we can do it!

"Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2) 

There are a number of things that can keep us from growing close to God:

• Comparison. "I will never be able to pray like him. I will never be able to understand the Bible like her. I shouldn't bother."

How can we get over this way of thinking? Hebrews 12:1-3 encourages us to focus on God ("the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith") and run our own race.

• Maybe you have met longtime Christians with bad habits or challenging personalities. "If they are supposedly close to God and act like that, what is the point?" 

God has justified us, through faith and by His grace (Romans 3:21-6) Remember that nobody is perfect, except God. We all miss the mark sometimes. Don't let someone's shortcomings stop you from seeking God! It's not worth it. Let Christ be your ultimate example (1 Peter 2:21-25)!

• Laziness. "Praying and reading the Bible every day sounds 'long'. We live under grace anyway! I'm not going to get struck down by lightning if I don't do these things." 

In the third chapter of 2 Peter, we are reminded that the Lord is patient. He gave us salvation and wishes for none of us to perish but that we will be saved. God will return and we are advised in verse 14 to "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him". We need to work on our faith every day, so keep going. Don't get tired of doing good (Galatians 6:9).

2 Peter 3:17-8 says:

"Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

•  Discouragement. We all go through trials and difficult times. 

God promises that all things will work together for our good in Romans 8:28. Don't give up. The Bible tells us to press on and forget the past (Philippians 3:13-15). Again, we are told to forget the past in Isaiah 43:18-9. God is doing a new thing!

•  Doubt. We all go through peaks and troughs in our faith. With our salvation, God gave each of us a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Don't be afraid to ask for more. The father of a sick boy did just this in Mark 9:14-29. Spoiler alert: The story ends well! 

"Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-4) 

Quick question: Is there anything holding you back from seeking God wholeheartedly? Have you prayed about it?

This year, I decided to be more intentional about spending time with God. In Part 2 of "Be Still", I will tell you what I found out.

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Speak soon, Alice x