By Kristin Ashley

Stillness.  It is so hard for me to just be still.

I realize that my nature is to rush, move, and to battle distraction. I realize that in my busyness I rob myself of true and deep relationship with those around me. More importantly, I am convicted that I may rob myself of truly knowing, believing, and growing in the relationship I have with the Lord.

In thinking about the heart of worship, I desire to meditate on Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

I have to pause. I need to reread these precious words. Do I hear the whisper in the words? Can I fathom what ALL of my heart would, or should, or could love like? Can I slow my racing thoughts to try to only think of one part of God’s character, let alone the amazing greatness of all of His character? Do I even know the strength that I possess by the Spirit’s presence in me?

I pause. Can I even grasp that I am called to LOVE the LORD MY GOD with ALL of me? I am unloving and unlovable, foolish, distractible and weak...and yet, I am called to love God wholeheartedly. I pause. I need it to sink in.

When I meditate on this commandment from Christ I want to hear the rally cry. I desire to feel the depth of what we are called to do, and yet I feel inadequate to truly do it on my own. And then I am reminded that over and over God reminds us to be still. Psalm 27 states, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” In order to wait I need to be still.

In Rick Warren's devotional today I found it helpful to think about worship being authentic. In order for something to be pure and genuine, it takes time to be refined. It is my reminder to wait...to seek stillness and to open my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength to humbly seek God in His wholeness.

Gary Thomas’ list of nine ways that people draw near to God resonated with me. While I think we can relate a little to all of them, I felt connected to being a Naturalist. As a “Nature Girl” I can clearly see and feel God when I am outdoors. A budding flower, a chirping bird or golden sunset all draw my attention to God.

When I am outdoors, there is a call to be still and to seek the Creator. In seeking Him, I desire to worship the beauty in the world around me. There is a reason we must “stop to smell the roses.” Gratitude and worship comes out of the quiet. Love can be born out of pausing to hear, see, feel, and think about our God.