Sometimes my quiet moments with Jesus are anything but quiet. 

My mind can be all over the place.  One minute I’m focused on him, and then… Oh hey there, distraction! Come on in. 

Back to you, Jesus.

God help me now.

Try as I may, there are some days when I’m just not that holy.

But that’s okay.

Because the fact is, in those moments I’m still meeting with Jesus.  I’m working through it.  I’m learning to still my soul.

We live in a noisy world.  Things clamor for our attention.  Some of those are real things that actually require our attention. 

Sometimes we have to hit pause and go do the necessary.

But sometimes what we need to pause is our minds.

The truth is, we all have distractions that are mountains to scale, and there are days when we just can’t seem to climb over them.

Surely I’m not alone in this.

That’s why I’m grateful that his mercies are new every morning.

He never requires perfection.  He just waits patiently for us to try again.

Thank you Jesus. We need that.

Most of us have heard the famous words of Psalm 46:10:

Be still and know that I am God.

Those words can seem hard to live up to.  But I have good news.

TO BE STILL DOESN’T MEAN TO BE STILL. 

It doesn’t mean we have to sit quietly or be a pro at shutting out every distraction.

To BE STILL means to slow the chaos in our souls, to recognize that God is in control, and to give him our concerns.

To trust him.

But what if your distraction is bigger than just the noise in your head?

Sometimes distraction is the result of not meeting with Jesus in the way he intended for you.

What do I mean by that?  Read on.

Some of us are wired in ways that naturally lend to being still, and some of us aren’t.

What if the words BE STILL evoke thoughts of spiritual boredom for you?

If traditional devotion methods are a challenge for you, have you thought about meeting with God differently?

• Would your prayer time be more focused if you talk to God while moving?  You could pace the room, go for a run or walk, or even go for a drive.  Some of my best prayer times have happened in my car.

• You might need some noise to break the silence as you read the Word or pray. Playing Christian or classical music might be just the thing for you.

• Praying and reading OUT LOUD are also great ways to maintain your focus while you seek a connection with him.

• Or sing.  God loves our worship, and it’s a great way to connect with him.  The wonderful thing about song is he made the voice he gave you, and whether you consider it lovely or not, it is beautiful to him when it comes from the heart.

Maybe sitting still with Jesus isn’t your challenge, but distraction is more common for you than you’d like. 

• Perhaps you could grab a pen and journal your thoughts, because that’s where you can really find your quiet.

• Reading some pre-written prayers might help you find your focus.  I have found Stormie O’Martian’s prayer books to be especially powerful.  She has several, all entitled The Power of a Praying [Woman, Wife, Parent, Nation, etc.].

• Maybe you’ve been doing the same thing for too long and you need to try something fresh.  YouVersion is a Bible app that is full of great options, and it can help you do just that.

Whether you’re naturally wired to be still or not, it’s always a great idea to try something new. 

Because there’s not just one way to meet with Jesus.

And there’s especially not one RIGHT way.

I read a book by Gary Thomas that proves this very thing.  He calls it Sacred Pathways.

His point is that we were all made to connect with God in different ways. Nine different ways, to be exact.

Because cookie cutter faith is not what God intended.

This means that how I best connect with God might be very different than what works for you.

Understanding this will free you from the lie that you are just not that spiritual. 

Because maybe it’s not that you are unspiritual, it’s just that you haven’t discovered how you were made to connect with God.

His nine ways include connecting with God through:  nature, vibrant worship, traditional hymns and rituals, silence and simplicity, social justice, caring for others, use of the senses, a love relationship with Jesus, and intellectual Bible study.

This list alone shows the diversity of all God’s people.

One of the best things he offers is an assessment to help you figure yourself out.  You can find an online assessment to take here:  Sacred Pathways Assessment — Victory Worship Center (vwcaz.org)

But above all, remember this one thing.

No matter HOW you meet with God, you MUST be sure you find a way to get His Word in you.

Hear me on this.

A believer who isn’t feasting on the Word will starve. 

Be sure you feed your soul.  That is absolutely critical.

Now is the time to ask yourself if you might benefit from trying something new when you meet with Jesus. 

Think outside the box a little.

Try some of my suggestions above, or ask a like-minded friend what works for her.

Or read Sacred Pathways, take the assessment, and explore new ideas that way.

Whatever you do, search for a way that helps you and God find your connection, and trust him with whatever is on your heart.

Stare at Jesus today, find your focus, and still your soul.