The Contented Life Daily DevotionalSample

Embrace Stillness

Today's world has gotten more efficient, advanced, and educated, but everyone is busier than ever. Oliver Burkeman from the BBC stated that "Busyness has become an indicator of high status," but this "busy feeling" makes a person perform worse and have less compassion. In some ways, being busy can make you feel important and better about yourself, but only temporarily. You might think being busy will lead to greater contentment, but this is a tempting lie.

The psalmists remind believers in God that true contentment and peace come from stopping your activity and recognizing that God is greater, all-powerful, and the supreme ruler of all the earth. When you do this, all of life and human doing is put into proper perspective. While all your efforts and achievements may vary, God will never vary. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, if you look to God for your value and worth rather than how productive or accomplished you can be, you will experience the contentment and peace that God wants you to have every day.

Cultivating a habit of embracing stillness is easier said than done. It requires going against the grain of society in establishing rhythms in your day - rhythms that will cause you to pause your work or activity to connect with God and re-align your thoughts with His Word found in the Bible. These pauses could look like short walks around the block or taking a few minutes to meditate on a passage of Scripture in the middle of your day before praying. Whatever the habit or rhythm, be sure to practice stillness, slowing down your thoughts, being quiet, declaring who God is, and thanking Him for His presence in your life.

---
By: Jessica Chen