Quiet...

Today's Scriptures:

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 (Amplified Bible)

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:4 

There is much to be said these days for a little peace and quiet.  It seems as if we always have on the radio, TV, iPod, DVD, phone ringing, and a host of other noise makers that overtake our every waking moment.  Many sleep with the TV on, so basically all day and night our brain is flooded with sound.  Have you ever just felt overwhelmed with the sounds that bombard you all day long?  I know I do!  I am not sure if I am just getting more sensitive to it or what…but sometimes it just feels like I have a child talking, a TV blaring, a microwave humming, (they are all standing in my brain) and I am about to lose my mind.  Most times if I have the luxury of getting in my car alone, I just enjoy complete silence.  It almost soothes me to hear nothing, no music, no DVD player, no one asking me “what is for dinner?”…just nothing.  How in our society do we ever expect to hear God’s voice if we can’t even hear ourselves think most of the time?  Is that why we are often short on patience and gentleness?  I am pretty sure that is probably the case for me.  I can admit I come from a family that is just loud in general.  And of course, I’m loud, and my children are loud; but I see these parents who are soft-spoken and I am envious.  I find they are usually more laid back and patient too.  I have much work to do on my soft-spoken and gentle spirit, but I am consciously making an effort.  I want to set an example of patience to my kids, not one of short-temperedness and booming voice.  I looked up the definition of still in the Webster’s 1828 dictionary and found the following: to stop, as motion or agitation; to check or restrain; to make quiet, as, to still the raging sea; silent; uttering no sound; quiet; calm; not agitated; as a still evening, freedom from noise.  If this is of great worth in God’s sight as per 1 Peter 3:4; then I want to strive toward this change.  I want to be still, listen to God, and know He is in charge of my life.  I found in the Amplified version as seen above for Psalm 46:10 the wording, “Let be and be still, and know I am God.” “Let be” is an interesting thought which means:  let alone, let go, leave alone, leave in peace.  Couldn’t we find comfort in letting be in our world, even if it is just part of the time?  Trying to control everything is exhausting and filtering the noise of our crazy busy world is engulfing our minds.  Look for quiet time in your life, be still, and let God be in control!  I know it will bring less agitation, and the gain of calm when life happens will be rewarding far beyond measure as our Father finds it beautiful J