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A Way Toward Quiet Hearts

By Karen Nelson

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to God’s people; Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.

I say, let’s have some of that. Let’s have some of that strength in our church and in our world. Some of that strength that comes from quietness and confidence.  Let’s return to the Lord and learn to rest in the Lord. Let’s be strong. 

There are so many things in the world that stir us up, let’s focus on things that quiet our hearts.

The Psalmist says, Be still and know that I am God.  (Psalm 46:10)

In this noisy, busy, and demanding world, how do we learn how to be still?

I learned to be still a few years ago when I attended SOULfeast at Lake Junaluska, NC,  presented by Upper Room. I took a class on silence. I thought that course would be a cinch, how hard could it be to be silent? I found out, for me, it was very difficult.  I found out how noisy I was in my prayers. I had all kinds of things to talk to God about, all kinds of questions, requests and demands. I discovered I had taken very little time to just “be still” before God and discover what God might have to say to me.

I learned a prayer practice that is called a Prayer of Recollection. It is a prayer that recalls our soul to its center, which is God. Because it is so natural for our souls to be fragmented and distracted this prayer reveals what is distracting us and allows us to give that over to God. You might want to try it.

  • Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably before God. Take some deep breaths, relaxing your body, and quieting your mind. Offer yourself to God.
  • Ask God to gather up the fragments of your scattered life and recollect your soul. Rest in God.
  • If distracting thoughts come up, write down one word that expresses your distraction, then let it go and return to rest in God.
  • After ten minutes look at the words you have jotted down. What stands out to you?  What anxieties do you see? Where is your identity centered?
  • Confess that you are not called to control all that disrupts your life. Allow God to hold the concerns of your hear. Be at peace.

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.  (Psalm 116:7)
I invite you to reflect on the song, Be Still by Jeremy Camp    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWN9xIogFPI

Bishop Laurie encourages you to sign up for a day of prayer either individually or as a congregation. You can use the use the Register Now button below to register your commitment to prayer during this week.

 

Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, 2301 Rittenhouse Street, Des Moines, IA 50321 (515) 974-8900