time to be still

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you;

As a mother of seven there are rarely moments of quiet in my home. It’s a busy day from the crack of dawn till the hours past the setting sun. And, honestly, I wouldn’t trade the noise, or the laughter, or even the constant movement for anything. Yet, still there are times where I need stillness. Not just quiet, but the stillness found by sitting at the feet of our Father and resting.

In surrender.

And that takes being intentional. When I notice that my emotions are at their end that is a signal to me that perhaps I haven’t spent enough time in prayer with my Lord and that instead I’m carrying my loads, my burdens, myself. It’s as if the lens in which I view the world gets warped and distorted and instead of seeing the goodness and blessings all my busy and unstill mind can see are challenges. Deadlines.

So I’ve learned to stop.

To stand at the counter, and close my eyes (and sometimes it can only be for a couple seconds), and pray.

Jesus – this burden that I’m carrying is weighing me down. Take my anxiety, and worry, and loss of joy and replace it with your peace, your protection, and your true joy. I give this day, and this hour, and this moment to you.

There is time to be still. It’s in those moments. Some may be long and restful (like when I was at the lake two weeks ago) and others may be in those prayers that we as mothers utter at the counter with toddlers underfoot and the oven timer beeping.

Cast your cares on Him. He does care for you.

How about you?

What are ways in which you incorporate prayer and stillness into your daily life?