In an attempt to draw near in prayer, I sat trying with all my might to silence the noisy voice of hurt rattling my mind. The screams from an abrasive email were louder than the construction going on down the street.

Written at a time of significant turbulence, Psalm 46:10 has become an anchor verse for souls tossed by life’s forceful waves. Be still and know. Though the very ground rattled beneath their feet as Assyrian armies threatened to invade, this unknown Psalmist knew they were called to be still and know.

Planted much later on the timeline, we now must respond to this call. An invitation to know that God hasn’t abandoned His throne. Know that He oversees all things. Know that the voice halting the rolling waves of the ocean can silence the raging sea within. Know that He is God and, yes, He is in control.

These truths make their way to our hearts in the stillness of our time with Him.

While the screams of the world are heard from a distance, the gentle whisper of God can only be heard by the one who draws near, leans in, and listens intently. Stillness is the call of the Father’s heart and the cry of every human heart.

Do you struggle being still long enough to hear God? Is your prayer time filled with noise. Grab this free Bible study workbook to learn techniques for being still and listening to God. free bible study printables | how to hear God's voice | How to be still and know God | How to listen to God in prayer #freebiblestudyprintables #bestillandknow #hearinggodStill. Motionless. Without sound.

As we sit in the calmness of His presence, we are reset for the day, replenished with His strength, receive vision for our life, and restored peace for our soul.

But, if you’re anything like me, the racquetball tournament begins the moment you sit, intentionally seeking to be still. Over the years, as I’ve wrestled through taming the rackety rush, eight steps have emerged.

Before you begin, write down anything that’s weighing on your mind, whether it’s your to-do list or something else. Start by praying something like this: Father before I even begin, I exalt your name. Help me to sit at your feet in silence. To talk to you with an open heart, imagining you here in this place. Help me to silence every other voice competing for your attention. Let me linger in the only Presence that matters as your faithfulness surrounds me. I am choosing to lean in and listen to your whisper over the chaos of the day. I will be still before you, know that you are God, and wait patiently for you to speak.

Grab your free workbook (sign up in the margin or below post) and let’s dive into how to be pray.

For further study on prayer, be sure to check out this post on How To Pray and How to Create a Prayer Strategy

 

B. – BREATHE

Breathe a prayer of praise. With your eyes closed, take several slow, deep breaths. This isn’t the New Age breathing, but simply remembering the One who continues to fill your lungs with air. With every inhale, you are breathing in His grace, a tender reminder of His unfinished work for you here on earth. Focusing on your breathing pattern requires attention that was once stolen by mental noise. The focus is to inhale gratitude and exalt His name.

  • Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6
  • The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

E. – EXHALE CONFESSION

Part of the stirring in our souls can come from unconfessed sin. While God knows everything before it happens (Psalm 139), the relationship between confession and closeness is tightly interwoven. It unloads the heaviness of sin zapping your strength. Spend a few minutes asking God to reveal any unconfessed sin in order to fling open the gates of communication.

  • Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

For more on confession, check out this post on How Confession Cleanses the Soil.

Do you struggle to hear God's voice? Learning to pray and hear God's voice can seem out of reach, but it doesn't have to. Grab this free Bible study workbook with scripture writing printable to learn techniques for being still and listening to God. free bible study printables | how to pray effectively | How to be still and know God | How to hear God speak #freebiblestudyprintables #bestillandknow #hearinggod

S. – SILENCE THE MARTHA

Poor Martha. She gets a bad rap for always “going” while her sister, Mary, is praised for sitting still. While there is a time for both (Ecclesiastes 3), this time is dedicated to the soul steering Shephard. An opportunity to be still and know God, to draw near to Him, seeking His kingdom first. In return, you will find rest in His shadow. Sit in silence and seek to quiet everything standing between you and Him. Pray for the peace of Christ to rule in your heart and mind.

  • Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

T. – “THANK” OUT LOUD

If you’re still struggling through the internal dialog and you’ve tried the above-mentioned, try talking out loud. In a calm, gentle whisper, thank Him for His presence, allowing a quiet pause in between each sentence. Thank Him for encamping around those who trust Him, for promising to draw near, and filling your heart with peace not available anywhere else. Thank Him for holding the answers to all your questions, the antidote to all your fears, and the wholeness for all your wounds.

  • My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. Psalm 71:8

These prayer prompts on The Power of Gratitude and Bible Verses on Thankgiving might be helpful for you.

how to be still before God, 8 steps to fight distractions and hear from God, how to have a quiet time with God, learn how to be still and know God more

I. – IMAGINE HIS PRESENCE

Somewhere along life’s storyline, we lose our childlike imagination. Made in the image of a Creative Engineer, we have creativity and imagination hand-stitched into our DNA. Throughout Scripture, vivid visions are portrayed by Daniel, John, Ezekial, and many others. So invite Him in, set your mind on a heavenly perspective. Imagine entering His throne room and sitting at His feet. Picture God in your situation. Ask for vivid “sight” to envision being in His presence. This is also a great way to study Scripture, picturing the scene and the people involved.

  • Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

L. – LEAN IN & LISTEN

There’s not a more significant investment than choosing to sit at His feet. And no higher return on that investment than hearing the voice that said in the beginning, “Let there be…” In 1 Kings 19, Elijah had already heard God’s voice, but the Lord wanted all of His attention. God wasn’t in the big, bold noise of the powerful wind, rattling earthquake, or ferocious fire. Why does God choose to speak in the stillness of a quiet heart? Because when He whispers, we have no choice but to give all attention to the Whisperer. All other noise is drowned out by drawing in close to His heart and listening with ears intent on hearing.

  • Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13

L. – LINGER A WHILE

In a world with instant access to most things, sitting and waiting on Him has grown increasingly hard. We want immediate results. But, imagine (there’s that great tool) if Elijah had walked away after the wind or the earthquake or even the fire. When we rush through the call to be still, we miss out on the greatest opportunity to hear our Instructor’s voice. Linger in the presence of the Maker who says, “Don’t leave yet. Stay a while. Enjoy my rest.” Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. The voice that calms the sea is waiting to calm your heart.

  • Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7

Will you wait? Will you sit long enough to hear Him speak? Be sure to sign up for the FREE Be Still & Know how to pray workbook with Bible reading plan, Scripture writing journal page, and more.

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Do you struggle being still long enough to hear God? Is your prayer time filled with noise. Grab this free Bible study workbook to learn techniques for being still and listening to God. free bible study printables | how to hear God's voice | How to be still and know God | How to listen to God in prayer #freebiblestudyprintables #bestillandknow #hearinggod

 

Do you struggle being still long enough to hear God? Is your prayer time filled with noise. Grab this free Bible study workbook to learn techniques for being still and listening to God. free bible study printables | how to hear God's voice | How to be still and know God | How to listen to God in prayer #freebiblestudyprintables #bestillandknow #hearinggodDo you struggle to silence the internal noise during prayer? Do you long to hear God speak to you? Learning to be still and hear God's voice can seem out of reach, but it doesn't have to. Grab this free Bible study workbook with printables to learn techniques for being still and listening to God. free bible study printables | how to pray effectively | How to be still and know God | How to hear God speak #freebiblestudyprintables #bestillandknow #hearinggod
Do you struggle being still long enough to hear God? Is your prayer time filled with noise. Grab this free Bible study workbook to learn techniques for being still and listening to God. free bible study printables | how to hear God's voice | How to be still and know God | How to listen to God in prayer #freebiblestudyprintables #bestillandknow #hearinggod
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