Michael Kyker.com

Why can’t we just learn to be still? I mean really isn’t being still so hard to do? People that sit down while talking on the phone just flat bug me…how can you just sit there? I have to walk…get up…MOVE! Of course, we are always on the move…we move from one kiddie sport to another, from one appointment to another, from one engagement to another…and the whole time we are thinking in the back of our minds…when can I get home so I can just stop moving! It’s the American way though. I compare how busy I am to in the hopes that my busyness trumps how busy you are in the hopes of winning the “Most things on my plate” award.

I wonder if this is why we struggle for clarity in our walk with God. But, surely, that can’t be it…I mean He is God. He can talk to me in all this busyness? I mean if anyone understands a lot of irons in the fire it has to be God…right? But then again, who likes to talk to anyone if they are distracted? My staff picks up on the signals I give when it comes to their conversations with me…I easily get distracted. Why talk to someone distracted? You don’t get their best. God wants our best…not our leftovers!

Want to be still? Want to hear from God? Want to take your life back? Some simple tips for clearing out the busyness and putting God back in the picture.

1. I used to tell everyone to learn to say no. But, now I am saying learn to say no to the right things. Because most people will always say no to church because they had a busy work week. Or, say no to spending quality time with their kids because they are tired. Learn to say no to the right things. Like the nagging desire to have more!
2. Manage your time…don’t let it manage you. Some people are busy because they can’t manage their time.
3. Setup, maintain, develop, and protect your personal devotion time. This is a must! You need to have all four of these working in order to make your devotion time stick.
4. This one is big for me…don’t feel guilty for just doing nothing. Sometimes the best spiritual action is to just do nothing and let God take over. Check it out here.

Take some time to be still. Paint, cook, write, hang out with your kids, or just veg. Being still takes work, but if you do it, it will have big payoffs.