There is a story of a man who lost a valuable watch while working in an ice house. He searched carefully for hours, raking through the sawdust on the floor, but failed to find it. Others helped him search, but they also were unable to find the watch.
A few days later, a small boy quietly went into the ice house during his lunch break. After a few minutes, he came out with the watch in his hand. Amazed, everyone asked how he found it. “It was simple,” the boy replied. “I just closed the door, lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.”
Being still and listening is something most of us either don’t give much time for or find challenging. Instead, we live in a constant state of motion and activity, and even when we do stop it’s difficult to still our hearts and minds. Like the men searching for the watch, we fail to hear much of what is going on inside and around us because we aren’t taking a moment to be quiet and listen? Or we only listen for the things we want to hear and choose to ignore anything we don’t want to accept or deal with. If we are trying to listen, the noise of everything and everyone else can be so loud that we can’t hear our hearts or the voice of God even if we want to.
But to remain healthy and consistently make wise decisions, it’s vital to schedule in a disciplined time of quietness, reflection and rest. When we can sit and listen to our hearts, assess our progress and care for our inner world. To have opportunity to bring our concerns to Him. so that together with we can formulate a plan and strategy to move forward.
Today, I encourage you to prioritise in your schedule, space to rest, dream and refocus. Time to sit and seek God’s guidance and receive from His strength. To read His Word and have some downtime where you can enjoy being, rather than doing. Just as the young boy in the story closed his eyes and lay on the floor quietly and, as a result, discovered the whereabouts of the lost watch, you too will be amazed by the clarity, peace and priceless treasures you will find.
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Prayer: Lord, help me stop, rest and listen in your presence so that you can direct and guide my steps today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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