As I have been having my quiet time with the Lord, I have also been seeking him deeply for all he desires of me to fulfill on this New Year ahead. I really needed the spirit of stillness, to be able to rest, plan, regroup, and really draw closer to the God.Isaiah 30:15 says, in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” It is in our quiet times that we can focus on the challenging parts of our lives. Challenges we face such as unpredictable emotions, worries, approval and reassurance, apprehensions, fears, insecurities, hopes, and dreams.
In the stillness, we make time to listen to what the Lord longs to speak into our spirit, a time of reverence and respect that is rightfully his. Stillness is worship, stillness is important in order to see things in ways we would other wise miss in our busyness. Stillness allows us to experience the fragrance of his love, to bask in it, to let it permeate our lives.
There is calmness that soaks into our spirit when we are still; the spirit of God finds his way deeply into the innermost parts of our soul. He begins to replenish the empty well of our heart that gets depleted in the busyness of our everyday demands, pressures, and stress.
We must not only cultivate the spirit of stillness, but nurture it, value it, and experience every moment of it. Stillness can’t be rushed, it must be pursued with patience and waiting. Stillness is a gift, one we should cherish, it is something many long for, but rarely pursue with a passion. Who would want to pursue stillness and why?
Stillness is something that has been stirring in my spirit, it is something I know I want to pursue, and part of my journey this coming year of 2009. I want to seek after it with my whole heart, mind, spirit and soul, because stillness has been one of my struggles.
We try to instill it in our children as parents when we give those timeouts because somehow we want them to be still and quiet so they too can regroup, and think maybe about a behavior issue that just happened.
As children of God we need spiritual timeouts as well , we need to be still and quiet before making major decisions, before saying something we would regret later, before running ahead of God and making a mess of our lives. There are treasures to be found, wisdom to unfold, and wonders to behold in times of stillness.
I would love you to join me as I blog about stillness in this month of January, or for however long the spirit leads me to do it. My sweet husband blessed me with a cute little notebook laptop as an early birthday gift. Although my birthday is not till January 10th, he wanted me to have it earlier because he knows the love I have for writing, and blogging, I think he is my biggest blogging fan, and cheerleader. Yay!! Now I can blog on the beach, in a park, I no longer have to sit at a desk to create.
28 comments:
Lori, You have such a way with words.
Your blog is always so peacful & calming. When I visit here I feel love and lots of compassion.
How wonderful for your new laptop. Have fun with it.
You are right we need to be still before jumping into things stillness is not easy for many of us.
Happy 2009 my kind friend.
~Mary~
Lori,
The words that I've read here today,are perfect.
Perfect to me because in the last few weeks God has been stirring my heart to be still.
God has given me Ps.37:7 to draw near to and not be so anixous in making things happen...like with my son.
Your writing inspires me.
In His Grace,
Tammy
Glad you are "back." I think your time with the Lord (without the PC) blessed you, but your time with the Lord, WITH your PC blesses you & US. Just remember what some wise person told me at a writng conference....
Time spent working for God is not the same as time spent WITH God. It's easy to mix the two when we are doing God's work.
Happy New Year and hugs to you sweet sister in the Lord.
Hi Lorie,
So happy to hear you got a new laptop. God is good!
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Sandi
Hi Lori. I found your blog through Mary at Isabellas Closet this morning, and I am so glad I did. It was like taking time to be with the Lord. You are now in my favorites and I will be back often. Thank you for the words of wisdom.
Happy Blessed and Powerful day for your Birthday. God is good and your hubby is too. Being still to know He is God is a key to finding revelations that normally aren't seen, felt, heard or known. He just pours His anointing over us inside to out. His spirit awaking within us. Love and blessings galore to thee my sister friend. Love to YOU, rilda *U*
I need to be still too Lori, it's such a challenge for me.
I'll look forward to reading in January.
So happy for you and your early B-day present. What a wonderful husband.
My birthday is tomorrow the 4th.
We're both January babies!
♥
Joy
Hi Lorie!!
I've missed you, but I agree we all need stillness in our spirit from time to time to truly be able to hear what God is telling us.
Stillness means different things to different people, I think. For me, it's a time of reflection, prayer and quietness with God.
But, in these economic times we are having, I'm feeling that a sense of stillness all around would be good for everyone--be still, pray, think and ponder before making a decision about anything.
We should be doing that anyway but don't always. Too many impulse buyings, impulsive actions, and look where this has led us.
And a new laptop from your hubby as an early birthday!! How wonderful!!
Enjoy!!
Beth
Being still and spending time with God is something I need to work on.
And, "Thank you Lord for answering my prayer for a new computer for Lorie."
My oldest daughter bought herself a wireless laptop. My niece's twin son has invited my daughter, my grandson and me to be a part of his Multi Talk on Instant Messaging. I felt so humbled that he asked me. He and his parents came in after Christmas and were here for about a week as well as my oldest daughter. It was so great to have all of them here once again. Our niece and her husband stayed with my husband's brother and his wife and their son stayed with us since my daughter and grandson were here. He needs prayer. I'm not sure about his relationship with God and I think that's why his Mom wanted him to be with us and especially our grandson.
May God continue to bless you as you bless us,
Luv u,
AliceE.
Hey Sistah's!!!
((((Hugz)))) h
Happy New Year!! It's so good to see all of you, it's good to be back blogging again *smile*.
Mary,
I feel the same when I visit you as well, I hope to get more inspired and creative through reading more of your posts. y
Your compassion is also evident as well as the time you take to post prayers for others.
Tammy,
Thank you for sharing your scripture that the Lord placed upon your heart. I will write it down in my journal as I continue to write about Pursuing Stillness.
Kelly,
Time spent working for God is not the same as time spent WITH God.
Thanks for sharing those wise words with me today. I will also put this in my journal.
Sandi..
It's good to see you!! Yes!! The Lord is good, I look forward to visiting everyone again.
Sharon,
It is always a blessing to meet a new sistah, I look forward to visiting you as well. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Sistah Rilda,
(((Hugz))) What a blessing you are to me. "Being still to know He is God is a key to finding revelations that normally aren't seen, felt, heard or known. He just pours His anointing over us inside to out." Thanks for sharing these words of wisdom with me today.
Joy,
Thank you for being such an encouragement to me, Yay we are both January Babes LOL. we are sistah's and kindred spirits as well *smiles*.
Sat Jan 03, 12:01:00 PM
Hi Alice,
Thanks for your prayers about getting a new computer. You always keep me in prayer and I appreciate you so much!! I know the Lord will continue to use you to be a mighty witness for his glory to each of your family members he sends your way.
Lori, Glad to be seeing you come up on my feed. I am happy for you to have a new computer. It is nice to be able to carry the computer with you where ever you go.
Blessings,
Cheryl
Hi Lori! happy new year!
Did you get the package that I
sent to you?
Love,
kelly
Hello Joyful,
Remember me? I am doing a bit of blog surfing to invite people over to my blog for my 2nd annual giveaway, and I saw your photo.
I am giving away a free caricature drawn by me, plus a few other prizes as a way of celebrating. I hope that you will do me the honor of coming over to take a look.
Beautifully written gf - as always.
Hello again - I just noticed that you became a follower of my blog. I just wanted to thank you and say that I am honored - truly!
Good luck on my giveaway, and stay tooned!
~HAPPY NEW YEAR~ Just wanted to remind you the Happy New Year offer ends Mon. Jan. 5th at noon for the free 8x10 print. Spread the word for people to post and e-mail David Bowman by then :) Have a beautiful Sunday! ♥ Hugs! Shauna
I love the idea of stillness. Really needed in today's world for sure.
Blessings.
Ruthie
Great post Lorie.
At times we need to be still, quieting ourselves so that we can hear clearly what the Lord is saying to us
Happy New Year! God is SO good. I prayed that He would touch finances, hearts or whatever he needed to do to bless you with a new pc so you could continue to minister to so many of us that are encouraged by your writings. May God continue to bless you!
Shanita
I'm glad you got a computer again! I prayed for you about it!
I love my quiet time with the Lord. It's my most cherished time of the day.
Love ya,
Debra
Sorry I haven't been by much lately! Just wanted to say Happy New year and Happy birthday(in case I miss it!!)
I'd love some stillness, but it's hard to come by with three noisy boys, a two year old and two minth old baby! ...and I'm too tired to get up before they do!!
On a sidenote, I do have a song called In the Stillness on my Songs Of Faith play list right now! It may be hard to relate to though...it's about walking on a cold, winter night!
Joyfulsister,
I whole heartily agree with you...we ALL need to be STILL and listen for the whispers of God.
I am going to follow your blog and participate with you in learning to be still and in doing so look forward to the renewal of my mind and spirit.
Hi Lori! I really miss having my quiet time with Him. I pray that He would give me that time so I can pour everything to Him.
I miss experiencing stillness with Him.
Advance Happy Birthday!
More blessings to you!
Welcome back my dear sister, welcome back! And if I forget, which I am subject to do, happy birthday!It is amazing to me that God seems to have the two of us on the same wave-length. I too blogged about stillness...not quite as eloquently as you though. It is my desire to pursue stillness and quietnes, solitude...with the Lord in 2009!
Congrats on your new toy. I love my laptop too!
Hi Cher,
Thanks for stopping by, I'm so glad to be back and start blogging again!! Now I can come by and visit you once again *smiles*.
Kelly,
(((Hugz)))Yes!!! And Thank you so much, I loved everything in my Goodie bag and I'll be over to visit shortly.
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the invite I'll be right over!!!!
Andrea,
Thanks Sisiath ((Hugz)))
Ruthie,
Good to see you my dear Sistah!!
I have missed you, thanks for stopping by. I am excited about what God is going to do in 2009.
Gi,
I know Stillness will require a lot of discipline on my part, but that is what I need to pursue it.
Shanita,
Happy new year Sistah,
Thank you for your prayers!! Yay God is so good and so is my sweet hubby!!!.
Debra,
I have missed my visits with you I will be over to see your photos and catch up!!
Deb,
I know we all have been busy with the holidays and family, It's good to know we are just a click away so when we have time we can visit each other.
Hi Shannon,
Thank you stopping by, It is always good to meet a new sister.
I'm so excited about the upcoming weekly devotions on Pursuing Stillness, thanks for joining me through this journey.
Hi Pen,
Happy New year!! Hope you had a wonderful holiday season, Thanks for the Birthday wishes. I will be over for a visit!!!
Theresa,
I'm so glad we are on a familiar journey, Let's cheer each other on as we pursue this journey on Stillness together!! Yay !!!!
HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!
..and how nice that we share the same month Laurie! Mine is on the 21st.
I just wrote a post about Pursuing Holiness...
I believe this year..the LORD is going to work in many lives as our thoughts are on seeking to serve him more fully. Yea..in the stillness indeed is that time when GOD can reach our own hearts and speak to us personally.
I pray you recieve the desires of your heart this year in drawing ever closer and walking in peace and stillness.
God bless..hugz
HOPE
It IS so peaceful here. I read your beautiful words that paint such glorious pictures... and I want to just crawl through my computer and visit you.
YOU ARE encouragement from your heart. I feel that Lorie!
GOD BLESS YOU!!
Love, Lea
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