Stop, Collaborate, and Listen

"Be Still and Know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10

What is it about this world that we seem to be in such a hurry? Why does it seem that we are so focused on the beginning and end that we don't even appreciate the now? I feel like this has been me these past couple of weeks. I was looking forward to spring break like two weeks before it happened and now that spring break is now coming to an end for me, I am already looking ahead to the summer and what that has in store. But, what about the time that falls between these dates? What about the now? Why am I not looking forward to the next minute, the next hour, or the next second that I am apart of the Lord's wonderful creation? This my insight on the unhurried life.

We hustle and bustle in this life. We look so far into the future and bask in our pasts that we forget to look at ourselves right now. We don't necessarily "stop, collaborate, and listen," as my home boy Vanilla Ice once said. But, what if we did do that in our faith lives on a daily basis? That doesn't mean every time that we want to talk to God or pray that we need to break out Ice Ice Baby, but it means that we need to do those three steps.

Stop: This step is pretty self-explanatory right? I mean in order to really have an in-depth talk with the Lord and really "Be Still" as it says in that Psalm. That means to stop everything that you are doing. That means shut the phone off, turn the TV off, shut down the Xbox and Play Station, and legitimately sit still. That makes sense right? At least it does to me.

Collaborate: Aight, so this step is all about thinking while you pray. So for me that means that I just pray everything that comes to my mind that I think is good to pray about, which normally is everything because God is like that and wants to hear everything he can possibly imagine because he already knows your prays. Anywho, when I am thinking back about my days then this is the time to just get together with the Lord and have that little "pow-wow" with Him that he most definitely desires.  This does not mean though that you have to do all the talking.

Listen: This one is probably the easiest to think about, but actually is the hardest to put into action. I find it that after I just spew my guts out to the Lord that I am tempted to just say alright amen my job here is done, but in order to fully bask in the art of being still you need to be able to listen. You need to be able to quiet your mind, and just tune in to what God could possibly want to tell you in that time of peace. Think about it though. It is kind of hard to have a conversation with someone if as soon as they are done talking they shut you out. What do you think the Father feels like whenever we just pray and don't give him a chance to respond? Just think about that a little bit.

Hey Papa. I just come to you tonight with unending praises. I mean honestly you have done so much for us as your followers. You have given us a gift of eternal life through your Son Christ Jesus. I just thank you so much for giving me a passion and a voice for you Father. I just pray that as all of us go into our new weeks that we can start living in the now, and recognizing your presence in all of creation Lord. I just ask that you help us to want to spend more time with you each day, and that instead of just spewing our prayers to you that we can actually allow you to speak to us in however you please. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.