Pause to be Still

Today is Day 14 of our Advent journey, walking through Luke’s narrative of the birth of Jesus. We have seen how God broke through silence and entered into history, proclaiming the arrival of His Son. We have witnessed how He arranged everything to ensure that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, born of a virgin, and born in a manger. We have even beheld the heavens light up and a host of angels, singing a song nobody can imagine.

As Mary and Joseph are sitting with their newborn child, there are people all around and the streets are buzzing with questions as the shepherds tell their story to everyone they see. Yet here in this small verse, Luke includes a wonderful moment as Mary pauses to be still.

This new mother thinks about everything that happened, beginning with the announcement of the angel, meeting Elizabeth, having to go on the journey to Bethlehem, and then the arrival of the her child. It is nearly too much to take in, and instead of getting caught up in the excitement, Mary stops to process everything and treasure the moment.

Today let’s follow the example of Mary. As common in many lectio divina practices, take a moment right now and pause to be still. As you breathe slowly, try to slow down your mind and focus on the presence of God.

Prayer

Father, help me to be still. My mind is constantly going, and I find it difficult to focus on You and Your direction. I sense all of the distractions in my life, and I can see the worries and the anxieties piling up. In these moments, I can convince myself that praying is not a luxury I have time for, and instead, I need to be doing, performing, and producing. Help me to overcome this sin and instead be still and know that You are God.

As I look to everything that distracts me, help me to remember all of the ways in which You have demonstrated Your faithfulness to me, even when I have been faithless. Help me to treasure up those moments, to recall them with vivid memory, and allow me to rest in the assurance that you are the same God now that you were in each of those moments of faithfulness. Would You please allow me to store up these treasured memories in my heart, and when the worries come, the anxieties rise, and the troubles seem impossible, help me to turn to this trove of treasures that demonstrates how every time I seek Your face, You are ready to guide me, comfort me, hold me close, and give me the strength to continue. Thank You for these treasures, and thank You most for the treasure of your Son, Jesus.

Amen.