
An Excerpt from Blossoming out of the Valley
Chapter 1~Practicing Stillness with God
The exciting thing is that it only takes a small change of focus to practice stillness with God. Make a simple choice to take minutes, hours or even days to be still with God, presenting yourself just as you are. God is waiting for all His children to be still so He can speak wisdom and direction to them. He wants to bless you with love, joy, peace, comfort and healing. He wants to heal and restore you.
Author Max Lucado, in his book The Applause of Heaven, describes the blessings of practicing stillness with God like this:
Think about the people in your world. Can’t you tell the ones who have been to his mountain? Oh, their problems aren’t any different. And their challenges are just as severe. But there is a stubborn peace that enshrines them. A confidence that life isn’t toppled by unmet budgets or rerouted airplanes. A serenity that softens the corners of their lips. A contagious delight sparkling in their eyes. And in their hearts reigns a fortress like confidence that the valley can be endured, even enjoyed, because the mountain is only a decision away. Take a trip with the King to the mountain peak. It’s pristine, uncrowded, and on top of the world. Stubborn joy begins by breathing deep up there before you go crazy down here.1
I couldn’t have said it better. I was going crazy down here, but God touched me in a moment of stillness and began to change me. He was there all along, but I had to be willing to go to Him to find the peace that I so desperately craved. When I chose to respond to God’s pursuit of me, I began to experience His powerful deliverance as He led me step by step out of my dark valley. With each step, I found greater peace and more freedom. However, what sustained this peaceful rest was my commitment to practicing stillness with God. I chose to stay focused on God for strength and direction, even as I got further and further away from the chaos of my dark valley.
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BE LOVE, GIVE LOVE
~abby