there is a rest for your soul.

Finally, you get to your room after a long day of work. You’re looking forward to that post work nap you’ve been dreaming of since morning. You rest your head on your pillow when suddenly the room gets loud…

“Did I lock my car when I got home?” 

“Do I have enough money to pay for rent”, 

“Does my coworker not like me?” 

Questions and thoughts roll through your mind one after another, like movie credits at the end of a film. Your body may be still, but your mind is racing a thousand miles a minute.

What makes matters worse is when the thought becomes a full-blown discussion with yourself. What started as an intrusive thought now lives rent free in the forefront of your mind. Now, you’re halfway through a 30-minute nap still thinking if you should get up and check your car doors. 

What’s the result of unchecked running thoughts? 

Stress. Worry. Doubt. + Fear. 

Much like it is hard to focus when two people are talking, it is hard to hear the voice of God when other voices are louder. Only when our hearts are still, are we more prone to receiving from God. 

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practicing stillness.

Simply being in a quiet room is not practicing stillness, it goes one step further. Stillness of the heart is not a silent heart or a silent mind. Rather, it is a heart that is focused on God and His truth. If only Jesus can bring stillness to a raging sea, that means He is the source of stillness here on Earth.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7-8 NLT

Paul went further to say one more crucial thing: 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Phil. 4:8 NLT

Fix your thoughts. Think about these things. These are both action words that compel us to align our minds to the ways of God.

So how does someone get to a place of stillness in their minds? 

• READ: You must be filled with the Word of God! a.k.a Read your Bible! 
• RECOGNIZE: When you know the truth, it’s easier to discern a lie. When thoughts come to you that are contrary to the truth you’ve perceived from God’s word, recognize that this is not God speaking to you. Recognize that those thoughts are from another source. (“…take captive every thought…” 2 Corinthians 10:5)
• REPLACE: You can only renew your thoughts by replacing the lies with the Word of God. Look at what Jesus did in the wilderness. For every lie the enemy uttered, God responded with the truth. (“It is written, man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that God speaks.” Matthew 4:4)
• REPEAT: Remember, this process will not be a one time thing. Keep practicing it every time until it becomes your natural response. (When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.” Luke 4:13 NLT)  

be rest assured, true rest is possible, and it is found in Jesus.