(Psalms 46:10) Be still and know that I am God.

We live in a world of rush, rush, rush. 

Our schedule is packed with one activity after another. Before we finish one task, we are worrying about something else we need to do. It is like a hamster is running round and round in our minds. 

When this verse uses the word “still,” it is referring to “calming our thoughts.” 

The truth is, we have allowed our minds to become so filled with anxiety. Over time, we have created mental habits of speed, push, rush, and noise. 

We have allowed our minds to function outside of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. And so, our thinking becomes detached from our relationship with God. 

I personally struggle with a mind that will not turn off; it is a blessing and a curse. I can think deeply on topics and write books, but I have to work daily at calming my mind in God. I struggle to sleep, because thoughts are shooting through my mind like fireworks on the fourth of July. I have to consciously and intentionally calm my mind everyday. 

When we calm our minds—slow down the machine—it does not mean we put our minds in neutral. A Christian mind should be calm, but not inactive. A Spirit-filled, calm mind actually functions better, and our thinking becomes much more focused and clearer. 

As this verse emphasizes, there is a connection between “having a calm mind” and “knowing that God is God.” 

When our minds function in the calm of the Holy Spirit’s presence, our thoughts enter a deeper spiritual awareness of God. The calming of our minds is a significant spiritual discipline (habit) in our daily lives.  

I encourage all of us to intentionally work at “calming our minds” each day. If we do, we will grow in our spiritual knowledge that God is truly present in our lives.

Is the noise of the world controlling your thoughts, or are you daily allowing the Holy Spirit to fill your mind and thoughts with God’s presence?