Be Still

"Be still, and know that I AM God."

~Psalm 46:10

Everything is calling me to 'be still' lately. Bible studies, blogs, devotionals, life-in general-calling me to stop, just stop. Enough so that I am trying to be still. I created my peace retreat, though, I have to confess I've yet to really retreat. It's pretty. And that candle smells oh so good. I pop in for a prayer. I scribble a few lines in the journal. I've not really stopped to linger. There's so much going on...I feel restless if I slow down for just a minute, let alone five--who has five minutes??

Just writing this post, I had to get up and drain the chicken stock I've had simmering on the stove all afternoon, then toss on a pair of jeans before it's time for me to head to the bus stop to pick up Michael. From there I have to run back to the doctor's office to pick up the paperwork for the slew of tests they want me to have done to begin testing for MS, then head over to have a chest X-ray and blood drawn before my appointment with the neurologist tomorrow morning. Then it'll be home and homework and dinner and bathtime, then finally, exhausted, dropping into bed. Then I'll be still. I won't be concious, but I'll be still...

So, so thankful God has a sense of humor....

But God is certainly telling me to make Him a greater priority in my day and in my life. I'm trying. I've started praying at set times throughout the day--even though I've had to set my alarm to remind me! At nine, noon, and six my phone goes off and I kneel down in my little retreat space and offer up a few words of gratitude and praise. Today's been sprinkled with a few tears looking ahead at the coming week, praying for strength to see us through. And I know He will...He always does. He gives me words of encouragement and reminds me of all the times He's carried me in the past, He won't leave me now.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

 He will not let your foot slip—
   He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

~Psalm 121