Daily Delight

 Christmas is next week! While I always have high hopes that by this point my shopping is done and I’m sipping hot cocoa by my perfectly decorated Christmas tree, this picture is far from reality.In all this stress and busyness, something the Lord has brought to my heart is stillness:-The importance of it-The power of it-The healing nature of itI recently heard a useful analogy. For delicate surgery like open heart surgery, surgeons knock patients out with anesthesia. Do you know why? Because the patient has to be still for the doctor to do his repair work.The same is true of our loving Heavenly Surgeon. Heart surgery—deep transformation, healing, and restoration—can’t be done while we’re moving at a frenetic pace. We have to be still. We have to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to our hearts and minds in those quiet moments in thought, reflection and prayer.The Lord encourages stillness. He talks about the inner knowing that’s activated when you’re still before God. Psalm 46:10a says,”be still and know that I am God.” Exodus 14:14 reminds us, “The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still." 1 Kings 19:12 states, “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”With the final weekend before Christmas and in light of the holiday season in general, I don’t think I’ve ever resonated with this last verse more than I do now! The earthquake of Christmas, the fire of Consumerism and there in the lull between Christmas and the new year, there’s finally stillness-whispers of the Holy Spirit. Rest, healing and hope for what’s to come.With the last two weeks of December upon us, I’d sure like to have some heart surgery before the year ends. This requires stillness; a seemingly impossible action right now- but isn’t that usually when it’s needed most? Even if it’s two minutes before you hop out of the car or five minutes before bed, how can we create stillness in our day?

About the Author

Elizabeth Blumer

Elizabeth, a 29 year-old with Southern roots, works in Silicon Valley as a Marketing Manager for Google.  With a love for travel, meeting people and experiencing new cultures, she’s followed the Lord’s call for this fast-paced season in life.  Originally from Atlanta, and currently residing in San Francisco, she’s also lived and worked in New York City and New Delhi, India.

Elizabeth has a heart for loving on and investing in the “next generation.”  She enjoys fostering and building Christ-centered community in the areas the Lord has placed her.  In India, Elizabeth started an English school for children in a village near her church. At Google, she mentors young marketing professionals early in their careers.  Her goal is to become a Proverbs 31 woman - a Christian defined by grace, poise, Godly character and wisdom, and in her free time, she’s always ready to learn a new skill or have a good, heart-to-heart conversation while on a walk.

You can follow her on Instagram here and follow her blog, While I’m Waiting, here