Stop Striving and Start Surrendering
This year, Pastor Aaron has challenged us to stop worrying, seek God first, and commit to developing a deeper prayer life as we prioritize our time with Him. As I stepped into this challenge, God placed a scripture on my heart—Psalm 46:10a: “Be still and know that I am God.”
In my readings, I came across the verse broken down like this:
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know
Be still
Be
I’ve been meditating on this progression, letting each line settle into my spirit. And this morning, I finally discovered what it truly means to be. After prayer and study, CeCe Winans “Goodness of God” began stirring in my heart. I played the song and immediately tears began to fall. I wept through the entire song—and even after it ended, the tears kept coming. When the crying finally stopped, I found myself unable to move. It felt like a holy emptying, a release I didn’t even know I needed. I had no words. No requests. No agenda. Just stillness.
In that moment, I sensed God whispering, “This is what it means to be.” To simply sit in His presence without striving, without performing, without asking—just being with Him.
Each day, I desire to know God more deeply, to hear His voice more clearly, and to follow it more faithfully. Normally, at the start of a new year, I set goals and map out plans. But this year is different. This year, instead of setting goals, I’m setting my intention to focus on the Lord. I am surrendering my goals, my dreams, and my timelines to His will. My priority is to listen for His voice.
This shift doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m a problem solver by nature. Present me with an issue, and I can come up with three different solutions before you finish explaining it. That ability has served me well, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But I feel the Lord is inviting me into a new way—one that doesn’t rely on my own knowledge, wisdom, intuition, or resources.
He’s asking me to let Him lead.
To trust His timing.
To allow Him to do things His way.
This year, I’m choosing surrender over striving. Stillness over stress. Presence over productivity. And in that sacred space of simply being, I’m discovering God in a deeper, more intimate way.
I invite you to join me on this journey of surrender. Let’s commit—together—to slowing down, seeking God first, and creating intentional space to simply be in His presence.
Take a moment today to pause.
Turn off the noise.
Breathe deeply.
Invite God into the stillness.
Then ask Him one simple question:
“Lord, what are You saying to me in this moment?”
In my readings, I came across the verse broken down like this:
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know
Be still
Be
I’ve been meditating on this progression, letting each line settle into my spirit. And this morning, I finally discovered what it truly means to be. After prayer and study, CeCe Winans “Goodness of God” began stirring in my heart. I played the song and immediately tears began to fall. I wept through the entire song—and even after it ended, the tears kept coming. When the crying finally stopped, I found myself unable to move. It felt like a holy emptying, a release I didn’t even know I needed. I had no words. No requests. No agenda. Just stillness.
In that moment, I sensed God whispering, “This is what it means to be.” To simply sit in His presence without striving, without performing, without asking—just being with Him.
Each day, I desire to know God more deeply, to hear His voice more clearly, and to follow it more faithfully. Normally, at the start of a new year, I set goals and map out plans. But this year is different. This year, instead of setting goals, I’m setting my intention to focus on the Lord. I am surrendering my goals, my dreams, and my timelines to His will. My priority is to listen for His voice.
This shift doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m a problem solver by nature. Present me with an issue, and I can come up with three different solutions before you finish explaining it. That ability has served me well, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But I feel the Lord is inviting me into a new way—one that doesn’t rely on my own knowledge, wisdom, intuition, or resources.
He’s asking me to let Him lead.
To trust His timing.
To allow Him to do things His way.
This year, I’m choosing surrender over striving. Stillness over stress. Presence over productivity. And in that sacred space of simply being, I’m discovering God in a deeper, more intimate way.
I invite you to join me on this journey of surrender. Let’s commit—together—to slowing down, seeking God first, and creating intentional space to simply be in His presence.
Take a moment today to pause.
Turn off the noise.
Breathe deeply.
Invite God into the stillness.
Then ask Him one simple question:
“Lord, what are You saying to me in this moment?”
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