A Springtime Soliloquy: Be Still
by Phyllis Hooten
, By
May is an excellent month
to live out Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know
that I am God; I will be
exalted among the
nations, I will be
exalted
in the earth.” This
springtime soliloquy can
be enjoyed while sitting
outdoors and relishing
the spring weather before
summer’s unrelenting
heat drives us inside
save for the very early
mornings or late
evenings. Pausing for a
few minutes in a backyard
pergola or a shady
spot at a neighborhood
park to gaze at plants
and trees awash with
spring growth provides
the refreshment needed to
remember God’s
sovereignty.
Frequently, our
existence is one of
continual distractions
because of being in
constant motion and
engulfed in demands.
Taking a
few minutes to linger in
His presence redirect us
to what is
important. We can benefit
from Jesus’s loving
response to Martha who
had let busyness and
aggravation at the lack
of help by her sister
usurp what really matters
in Luke 10:41-42 “…
Martha, Martha, you are
worried and distracted by
many things; but only one
thing is
necessary; for Mary has
chosen the good part,
which shall not be taken
away from her.” Being
still in His presence can
be a preventative
measure from pushing
forward in our finite
strength until succumbing
to a sense of exhaustion
or defeat.
Taking time to be
still and surveying all
of the new life
springing up inspires us
to praise Him as the
Creator. Basking in the
bright spring sunshine
encourages us to
remember: “Great are the
works
of the LORD; they are
pondered by all who
delight in them” (Psalm
111:2). Although by the
month of May many
Bluebonnets and Indian
Paintbrushes have faded,
we do not have to look
far for glimpses of
Indian Blankets and Pink
Evening Primroses swaying
gently in the
breeze. Appreciating the
vegetation changes
assures us He is at
always
at work and “…makes
everything beautiful in
its time…” (Ecclesiastes
3:11). The year round
twittering of Blue Jays,
Cardinals and Doves is
made sweeter by such
seasonal visitors as
Purple Martins, Chimney
Swifts, and Barn
Swallows. Listening to
the symphony of birdsongs
gives us hope for we are
loved by the Lord our God
who “…will rejoice
over you with singing”
(Zephaniah 3:17).
Sitting quietly
surrounded by the myriad
of evidence of His
creation observable
during spring can be a
trigger for resetting our
minds. Philippians 4:8
instructs us: “…Whatever
is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is
admirable – if anything
is excellent or
praiseworthy - think
about such things.” Our
stressors and troubling
thoughts become secondary
when enjoying landscapes
alive with the
vibrant sights,
fragrances and sounds
associated with spring.
It is in
such moments we can
appreciate the fact that
He is exalted and will
help us to rise above any
chaos and clutter trying
to control our
lives.
Heeding the
suggestion of the
springtime soliloquy of
being
still allows us to be
encircled by all of the
evidence of new growth
in nature. This positions
us to clearly hear about
the newness he
longs for us to
experience. As the once
barren tree branches now
flourish with fresh green
leaves, we can look to
Him with joyful
expectation about what He
will do with areas of our
lives needing a
refreshing touch. In
areas in which we have
had missteps, we can
rejoice for Lamentations
3:22-23 informs us:
“Because of the Lord’s
great love we are not
consumed, for his
compassions never fail.
They
are new every morning;
great is your
faithfulness.” If old
mindsets,
wounds, and/or
disappointments have kept
us in a dark and cold
place,
we can rejoice
nonetheless, for 2
Corinthians 5:17 assures
us:
“Therefore, if anyone is
in Christ, the new
creation has come. The
old
has gone, the new is
here!”
Receiving a
download of Kingdom
wisdom may occur when we
take
the time to be still in
His presence. Proverbs
8:1 reminds us “Does
not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding
raise her voice? At the
highest point along the
way; where the paths
meet, she takes her
stand” indicating the
LORD desires us to be
attentive to His call for
wisdom. However, His call
can be drowned out by the
noisiness of our
lives. Participating in a
springtime soliloquy of
stillness permits
our path, filled with
unanswered questions
about worries and
direction, to intersect
with His path overflowing
with answers
bursting with heavenly
wisdom.
Finally, when
taking time to enjoy His
presence on a bright
spring day, we can be
overwhelmed with all of
the displays of life
around us. Whether it is
through flora or fauna,
spring is a time to
celebrate life for as we
are told in John 10:10 “…
I have come that
they may have life, and
have it to the full.”
God’s yearning for us be
still and enjoy His
presence is poetically
stated in Song of Solomon
2:11-13: “See! The
winter is past; the rains
are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the
earth; the season of
singing has come; the
cooing of doves is heard
in our land; The fig tree
forms it early
fruit; the blossoming
vines spread their
fragrance. Arise, come,
my
darling; my beautiful
one, come with me.”
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