(Psalms 46:10) Be still, and know that I am God.

We live in a world of rush, rush, rush. Our schedule is packed with one activity after another. Before we finish one task, we are worrying about something else we need to do.

When this verse uses the word “still,” it is referring to “calming the mind,” not being physically still. The bottom line is our minds are too often racing all the time.

Our minds become filled with anxiety, which creates a storm in our emotions. Our minds race because we have created mental habits of speed, push, rush, noise, and because we often allow our minds to function outside of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Our thinking easily slips away from our relationship with God, that is, we easily forget that God is truly God in our lives.

I personally struggle with a mind that will not turn off; it is a blessing and a curse. I can think deeply on topics and write books, but I have to work daily at calming my mind in God. I struggle to sleep, because thoughts are shooting through my mind like fireworks on the fourth of July.

I have to consciously and intentionally calm my mind everyday. Although some of us might struggle more than others, most of us have a difficult time “calming our minds.”

When we calm our minds—slow down the machine—it does not mean we put our minds in neutral. A Christian mind should be calm, but not inactive. A Spirit-filled, calm mind actually functions better, and our thinking is more focused and clearer.

As this verse emphasizes, there is a connection between “having a calm mind” and “knowing that God is God.” When our minds function in the calm of the Holy Spirit’s presence, I do believe it heightens our spiritual awareness of God.

The calming of our minds is a significant spiritual discipline (habit), it does not happen automatically.  The issue is not that we have many things to do, but that our thoughts stumble over each other. We lose focus. It is like a hamster is running round and round in our minds.

When we calm our minds in God, we can do as many things but better. One thought becomes distinct from another thought; they are not tripping over each other.

I encourage all of us to intentionally work at calming our minds each day. If we do, we will grow in our spiritual knowledge that God is truly God in all of life.