Oh these poor poor women! Under so much stress and hardship from a lifestyle that would be envied by the queens of old! Fraility, thy name is woman! This is why we need to keep women out of important jobs like politics, the Army, the police force, managerial positions, etc. Anyone so self-absorbed and weak as modern American women would surrender in the War on Terrorism the first time an Iraqi gave her a dirty look!

Every time I think of taking an afternoon nap or want to rest while reading a book, there's usually an inward battle that flares. Guilt or fear arises when I take time to relax or be good to myself.

Rest, repose, relaxation- these are not words that are hallmarks of my life, but they should be. I think a Christian should be the most relaxed person there is: they have their future secured, their sins forgiven, their past covered.They should be a person who rewrites Psalm 23 every day -as though they were just relishing the words, the thoughts, for the very first time.

"He leads me beside the still waters...".

Because I work from home I've designated a set to relax no matter how tightly wound up into a task. As I'm doing a task (mostly on the computer) I can feel myself getting more and more tense. I turn off the tv, music, open the window and sit still and breathe in the fresh air. Psalm 46:10 is something I try to allow myself to realize. It brings me to a very calm and comforting place.

i really liked lauren's second paragraph. the fact that so few of us have more than a head knowledge of those truths, comes out in how we live our lives.

we can and should be "relaxed', resting, abiding trusting in our Lord, no matter how busy we are.

tho our sabbath is a Person and not a day, it is good to take a day a week, to consciously slow down, to remember that He is our provider, and we do not have to be in any form or fashion.

and i relax best on my bike rides with Him! my legs are moving, but my mind and spirit are free just to "be" and to soar with my Lord.

We honor the Sabbath by only allowing family and church activities on that day. Since it's the only day of the week we don't have regualrly occuring activities, we feel free to spend the day reading together, riding bikes, or playing games. I know that's not being still and doing nothing, but for us that's relaxation: being with family, where we are free to be ourselves, talk about God, and do only what brings Him glory. I can't say we never watch TV or have music playing, but it's at a minimum as we are having too much fun without it.

My personal moments of stillness come in the early mornings, before my husband and three boys awaken. I suffer from chronic insomnia and awaken at about 3 or 4 in the morning most mornings. I try to see this condition as an opportunity and appointment from God to study Him, think about Him, or just be still.

As a project-oriented, get 'er done type person, I definitely appreciate the reminder to just chill, be still, and not do ANYTHING for a while. It's amazing how God is able to speak when I'm actually quiet and not trying to constantly accomplish something. Generally, my agenda isn't His agenda anyway. :)

"Oh these poor poor women! Under so much stress and hardship from a lifestyle that would be envied by the queens of old! Fraility, thy name is woman! This is why we need to keep women out of important jobs like politics, the Army, the police force, managerial positions, etc. Anyone so self-absorbed and weak as modern American women would surrender in the War on Terrorism the first time an Iraqi gave her a dirty look! "

Uh...hey, Johann---where you been? Women are in politics, the Army, the police force and are running big companies as well as small ones. You should also be reminded that there are right now, American soldiers (male and female) on the battlefields in Iraq who don't surrender when given a "dirty look". They have been fighting and dying for our freedom, including yours to express antiquated ideas on a Christian women's website.

The biggest way to not feel guilty about spending time to relax is to schedule it. I plan what I want to accomplish. I plan times to work on projects, etc. Planning time to read, exercise or just sit and look out the window is planning for physical, mental and emotional health.
Planning time with God is planning time for spiritual health, whether it includes Bible reading, a devotional, a prayer journal, praying without a journal or just time to think about who He is and who He wants me to be. ("Be Still and know that I am God.") I find that when I spend time with God on a regular basis, I think about Him more the rest of the time. Taking time to be quiet and think may reap similar rewards of knowing myself better.

I can relate well to this article. For me, the (social) pressure to be busy has gotten inside me to the point that I feel anxious about relaxing. I mourn for our society that is so stressed-out.
So the article was very inspiring to me. I think for someone not accustomed to stillness, it's good to start small. Sit in stillness for 5 minutes of and increase it as one becomes more comfortable with it.

After my children grew up and flew from the nest, I learned to enjoy the quiet. I have even been without satellite TV for more than a year, and rarely miss it. I spend much more time in prayer, and just singing praise hymns to the Lord while at home. During my long commute to my last job (50 minutes each way), I made a habit of turning off the radio and praying at least half the trip. On some mornings, I would spend the whole trip just conversing with my Lord. What a blessing to enjoy the quietness, and to listen to HIM!!

I observe the Sabbath. I know it makes a huge difference in my life. It's a day I don't feel guilty about all the things that I haven't done, that I'm not working on, that I can just focus on God, family, the important things and people in my life.
I believe God knew what He was doing when He set aside a day of rest, a day that was made for man...
We need a break. He set up that break for us...and all we have to do is rest in it.
Heather

I have learned that when we don't slow down and take the time to relax and be still that eventually we will pay the price- anxietyand depression being only 2 consequences,not to mention all the physical ailments that will wreek havoc on our body,when we don't take time to be still,we can't live with the JOY and PEACE that Christ wants us to have.

I think being still and doing nothing is a concept this world has forgotten. In this media centered world, we've forgotten there is an off button. When we are still and listen, we change our focus to a Christ centered world. The devil has created a lot of distractions.
I love going outdoors seeing God's beautiful creation. Listening to the sounds of nature. It makes me feel so close to God. How often do we get to go into nature, that not surrounded by traffic or neighbor noise? Psalms 46:10 is one of my favorite verses, but the one I practice the least.
Thank you for reminding me how important it is to:
Be still and know I am Lord

I can completely identify what Andrea says about doing three things at once. I do that on a regular basis, but I believe God is really concentrating on the concepts of both relaxing and honoring a
Sabbath--a time to truly be still (for me the challenge is keeping the inside still) and truly KNOW and BELIEVE He IS God.
And it's true, that when we are still, we can hear His precious voice and respond to His love and strength.

Ahh! Be Still and Know... Psalm 46:10 has long been "my verse", BUT I don't seem to have a grasp of it at all yet in my life. Both my husband and I have a very difficult time just "being still" - it seems we always have the TV or radio going and it is true - it isn't relaxing at all!!! A few years back, when I was not working outside the home, we would sit each morning on our deck just being quiet, listening to the birds or other natural sounds - then we would do a devotion and Bible Reading time - it was soooooooo relaxing and calmed me for whatever came that day. I have once again lost this as I went back to work and my old habits. Thank you for this article - once again it reminds me what truly "being still and knowing He is God" means. Thank you!

Oh these poor poor women! Under so much stress and hardship from a lifestyle that would be envied by the queens of old! Fraility, thy name is woman! This is why we need to keep women out of important jobs like politics, the Army, the police force, managerial positions, etc. Anyone so self-absorbed and weak as modern American women would surrender in the War on Terrorism the first time an Iraqi gave her a dirty look!

Posted by: Johann on January 30, 2008

Poor Johann - he doesn't realize that the scriputres refereced are not gender specific. They are just as applicable to men as they are to women.

Oh these poor poor women! Under so much stress and hardship from a lifestyle that would be envied by the queens of old! Fraility, thy name is woman! This is why we need to keep women out of important jobs like politics, the Army, the police force, managerial positions, etc. Anyone so self-absorbed and weak as modern American women would surrender in the War on Terrorism the first time an Iraqi gave her a dirty look!

Hi Johann, ... thank you very much for the words you wrote. Happy are those women who are free to live the way God intented for them ...

I paid the price in 2005 because I did not take time to rest, take care of myself, or even to STOP. With a job, 2 children, husband, sick dog, a house on the market, and one under contract, along with volunteering in 5 different areas of my church, God forced me to slow down with a major bout of depression which left me bedridden and not eating for 3 days, after which I had to enter a hospital. It took me 5 months to recover, where I had to relearn that GOD LOVES ME JUST THE WAY I AM, NOT FOR HOW MUCH I CAN DO FOR HIM.

"For by grace we are saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not by works, lest any man should boast. " Ephesians 2:8-9

My advice - slow down. Rest. Like Andrea said, be still and know that He is God.

He is God, and not we ourselves. We like to be in control of everything, we try to make everything perfect for everyone else, and in the meantime, we are losing our minds!!

Grace and peace to all, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sue

I think actually the point is not the frail and delicate nature of this woman's personality or her inability to withstand stress, but the fact that she realized to do these things more efficiently she needed to be still and rest. I believe that applying the ability to be still and calm helps ALL PEOPLE to make more informed and rational decisions and to act in situations rather than react to them. When a person is centered and calm and listening to the still, small voice of God he or she is much less likely to respond to someone's words with criticism and negativity or escalate a disagreement with violence.

Great article, one I can use as a reminder over and over. I have been a Christian over 30 years and still do not have a complete handle on this. Have studied the Sabboth rest, know and have taught the truth of sitting still before the Lord, planning time for rest and restoration as everyone has indicated. I think the world (system which is currently under Satan's control) keeps us stressed and "working" for God's approval on so many fronts and even if we are not, the constant cry of needs around us are pulling us from focus on Jesus. I currently have piece of paper with the words "intentional" on each of my TVs, so I have to remove them, on purpose, before I just sit down and blob out for hours on end at the end of the day. For it is filled with "great" stuff, like the Discovery channel and National Geographic and the like. I could be learning 24/7 and never do anything else.....but the LORD is my help and I am trusting in His Spirit with self-control and discipline to keep me from wasting the precious hours of my life. Try counting them up if you live to 80 years.....not too many days left really, just a few thousand.....all I know is GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD! I just have to be convinced in my mind that blobbing out is NOT resting in the Lord. Very different mindset and outcome. Help me, Lord!

o to be still in this increasingly frantic ,frenetic and crazy thank GOD for words like these that should make us realise we shouldnt feel guilty for taking time out in peace and quiet to reflect,meditate and especially chew the cud (as it were) after reading the word or simply to chill/rest.

I like your article and it does remind me that relaxing is about being still and quiet. If we have thought racing through our heads we can't really relax.

I am a 30 year old single Christian female. One thing that I have to comment on that stood out in your article was the fact that you and your boyfriend were alone in your apartment on the couch. If you have the strength not be tempted in that situation...I commend you. I just wanted to post this comment because I know that if I was in that situation (even though I am waiting until marriage before having sex) it would create a situation where things could probably go further than they should.

For every Christian single person reading this whether you have a strong sex drive or not: hanging out in an apartment alone with your girlfriend/boyfriend is a situation that you SHOULDN'T put yourself in. Hang out in public places!!!!! :o)

MY RULE OF LIFE

Ask the hard questions:
(check out assumsuptions)

Assume responsibility for myself:
(body/mind/spirit/soul) (purpose in life)

Be teachable and vulnerable:
(keep learning and becoming; Lectio Divina; courses; counseling; reading; support group)

Celebrate life

Dance with God:
(“And they started to dance as old lovers, who know and cherish each other’s grace;and his arm never pulled or pushed her, and her eyes never left his face.”)

Give out of fullness:
(receive from God; drop to my knees; then give to others)

Journey with friends

Lighten-up

Live authentically:
(“Teach your mouth to say that which is in your heart.”)

Live Courageously:
take risks-(“Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you I will uphold you with my victorious right hand”)

Love well:
(husband; adult children; 11 grandchildren; extended family)

Practice s l o w i n g:
(life is a journey to be savored; take time to look people in the eye; to listen)
(“because so many people were coming and going...He said…come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”)

Respond rather than react:
(take a step back—to gain strength/Jesus prayer—then respond)

Never give up/finish well
(“Behold, Linda, you are my dearly beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased.”)

I am learning to be still and know that he is God with something called Centering Prayer. It is a process of sitting still for about 20 minutes and not thinking about anything except being in the presence of Abba Father. It is Christian contemplation and is very relaxing. It is hard at first to learn how to let all the thoughts that run through your mind go and not follow them but with a holy centering word that can be said to yourself will bring you back on track, it can be done. Those who practice it try to do it twice a day. If you want to do it the Lord will carve out the time for you to be sucessful. God bless

I have always been a busy person,feeling guilty if I couldn't meet my expectations of all the things I thought I had to accomplish in my waking hours,I did way more than was expected of me,and always pushed myself to do more,and then.....POW,my mom died and a few of my friends died within a few months of each other,and I had a nasty bout of major depression for 3 yrs. but it was good in the sense that it forced me to look at myself and realize what is really important and worth vesting my time in and what isn't so important. I can now enjoy stillness without the restlessness and guilt.

When I was a college freshman I decided to try an "experiment:" setting aside each Sunday to do nothing acadamic or course-related (as in, study).

After church and lunch (I lived on campus), I'd either nap, read something not on my course requirements, feed the ducks at the nearby park, go for a walk, hang out with a friend, listen to music, or just be by myself for the afternoon/eve. Nothing school-related!

Most of my friends recoiled in horror, utterly convinced of the sheer folly of my weekly "restfulness." But I learned a valuable lesson: our mind, bodies and souls aren't meant to function efficiently at full-throttle 24/7. After my Day of Rest each week, my mind and body were not -energized and reinvigorated for the week ahead, but my heart and soul were recharged and refocused, too.

I earned a double major in the process, graduating magna cum laude with a life membership in Delta Epsilon Chi, a national academic honor society. I also learned that we function best and achieve most if we follow God's plan - setting aside a regular time to REST.