The power of stillness and reflection
This is part 4 of 6 in the Sound Mind Series.
When is the last time you took an intentional long pause, slowed your roll, reflected on what God is doing in and through your life? Our Sound Mind series continues with part 4 as we talk about reflecting. Our goal is to implement practices that can keep us mentally strong and refreshed all year long.
But first…are you someone who has struggled with anxiety, worry, or feeling overwhelmed a lot, either presently or in the past? If so, please see my note at the bottom of this post. I could use your insight.
Recently a friend visited me from Austin, and in passing she said, “What’s made the most difference in my life is my practice of silence and solitude.” Gulp. I was immediately filled with admiration, and nipping at its heels was a hefty dose of shame. Silence does not even appeal to me. And yet I know my soul needs it to function well.
Remember when we all went through various Covid restrictions and the general consensus was that, despite the frustrations and fears, we appreciated the forced slowing down? If you're like me, life has eased back into warp speed.
Scripture tells us to be still and know He is God. It strikes me that this is the same command Jesus gave to quiet the storm in Mark 4:39. Being still is a form of submission to Him, and that’s likely why it’s hard for us. It requires us to surrender our time, our works, our productivity. It requires trust that we will find something worth having in that process. Hint: it’s not a thing but richer connection with God himself.
If being still feels like a weak posture for you, Exodus 14:44 says the Lord will fight for you if you will only be still. I imagine God like a frustrated parent, trying to wrestle a onesie onto a toddler and saying, “Just be still for once, I’m trying to help you here but you’re rushing about making a mess of things.”
So let’s talk about the practice of reflection. It can take multiple forms. So have no fear - there is a path forward that will feel doable for you.
Reflection might take the form of praying through things we are grateful for or releasing into God’s hands, meditating on scripture or other truths, journaling an experience or revelation, or just stillness for the purpose of being in God’s presence.
The objective is to give yourself an opportunity to stop and absorb what God is doing in your life. If you’re not sure what God is doing or saying, that’s an even better reason to do this practice regularly. It’s like tuning in to a radio, turning the dial a little this way and that to hear the still, small voice of God that gets drowned out in our own thoughts.
As always, start small. If you’ve never meditated or done guided prayer, don’t start with an hour of complete silence. You will go crazy and believe it’s not for you. Start with 5 minutes (which may honestly feel like an hour for some of us).
5 minutes of prayer surrendering your day
5 minutes of journaling what you feel like God is doing in your life
5 minutes of quiet
5 minutes of listening to worship
5 minutes of meditating on a truthful affirmation that speaks to you
Choose one and just try. See how it goes. It might become your favorite thing. You might email me in a year and say that silence and solitude has changed your life.
For your convenience, you can complete a Daily Practice in the Dawn app each day, which includes several of these components.
For those who have struggled with anxiety, worry, or overwhelm…
I am creating a faith-based holistic resource (with components for spirit, soul, and body) based on research, as well as my own experiences overcoming anxiety. Would you take 2 minutes to answer a few questions that will help me make this as useful for you as possible? Anyone on my email list who completes the survey will receive 50% off the resource when it's complete, for yourself or a friend.
Tap here to take the brief survey
