“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Eph. 5:1, NIV).
. . . To be an imitator of God, requires that we come to terms with the value of quietness, slowing down, coming apart from the noise and speed of today’s pace, and broadening our lives with a view of the eternal reach of time. It means saying no to more and more activities that increase the speed of our squirrel cage. Knowing God requires that we “be still” (Ps. 46:10).
. . . It means I refuse to be driven by guilt and unrealistic demands on my time and my priorities. It means I must draw away from what’s going on and seek solitude with my Father.
We’ll be criticized, of course, for taking time away to “be still,” but it’s not a take-it-or-leave-it luxury. It is necessary for survival. Our minds must be liberated from the immediate, the necessary stuff in the mainstream of our world, so we can gain perspective. We have to have “still” times so we can imitate Jesus and lift ourselves away from the grit and grind of mere existence.
Tell yourself right now and throughout today that it’s okay to draw away from the maddening crowd. Jesus did; so can you.
Fatigue is not next to godliness.
~ Chuck Swindoll, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll
As quoted at Insight for Living
In the stillness,
Sandy
Welcome to the Still Saturday Community where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and reflect on the depth of sparse words. We’d love for you to join us. Grab the button and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to be still together, to gaze long and drink deep.
As usual, your photography pieces are heart grabbing. Thank you MUCH! Bless you.
Bless you, Joanne. I hope you’ve recovered from your trip. 🙂
Oh, I wish! Right now, just getting up engenders more pain and fatigue than I thought possible, but it MUST be borne, because the effect on morale of doing nothing is terrible.
And I can do so little, so slowly, that to accomplish anything worthwhile I have to be going pretty much all the time.
Yuck. Just writing it down…yuck. Not the way to live. I envy the deer.
I hate that you are having to go through this, Andrew. But just so you know, the words you are able to share are so worthwhile!
Such beautiful photos. We are on the same page this week. The crazier our world is getting, the more I long to really live John 14:27, to live in the peace of God.
And the more I just want to shut out the news. And even shut down the electronics. But I’d miss my friends. I want that peace, too. And yet… we still have to find that balance. To be centered while still in the world. Sigh…
Beautiful photos. Your words remind me of some thoughts on Sabbath keeping that I heard this year: We rest because God rested, and in imitating Him, we affirm that we are not trying to BE God. This smacks down my atheistic tendency to think that my universe will crumble if I am not personally controlling every stray atom.
Oh… good one, Michele. We do try to personally control every atom… 🙂
This is a promise I need to remember….”. . . It means I refuse to be driven by guilt and unrealistic demands on my time and my priorities. It means I must draw away from what’s going on and seek solitude with my Father.”
Thanks for the quiet reminders to pause.
Blessings,
Dawn
A to the Men, Dawn. #guiltfree zone. #bestyes
Yes, perfect. Wonderful photos and reminder. I’m learning to slow it down. I think I have it grasped then I find out I’ve got a lot more to learn. 🙂 Thanks Sandra.
I’m right there with you, Jason.
Thank you for sharing beautiful thoughts, truths, and pictures each week, Sandra.
I love the weekly reminder to imitate Christ by choosing stillness and retreating to be alone with the father.
Thanks for hosting the link-up, as well, that we might bless and encourage one another with the words He has given us. May He continue to fill your cup to overflowing!
You are such an encouragement, Heather. You imitate Jesus well.