“Be still, and know that I AM GOD.” You know how much I love that verse from Psalm 46:10. It’s shown up several times here as the basis of prayer bead devotions. It’s even on the wall of my studio. Every morning, I light a candle, stand in front of the quote, and read it slowly, taking in each word. It sets the tone for the day, reminding me to just “be still.”

The wall of my studio

The wall of my studio

During Session #1 of The Upper Room’s Academy for Spiritual Formation, one of our faculty members, Liz Canham, taught us a new way of meditating on this verse. She suggested that we repeat the verse, each time dropping part of it, like this:

Be still, and know that I AM GOD.

Be still, and know that I AM.

Be still, and know.

Be still.

Be.

I love this way of meditating on the verse. Each statement is powerful in its own right, helping us to understand better what God is calling us to do and to be, until you get down to the very essence of the verse. Just be. It is so simple.

As I prayed this verse today, I realized this is a fitting meditation for Advent. Our culture rushes towards Christmas. We are under constant pressure to spend and do and go and be. We hurry to declare the birth of Christ before we have prepared our hearts and minds to receive our King. So let us take these four weeks of Advent to stop and just be. Let us use this time of Advent to prepare ourselves and our world for the coming of our Savior.

Join with me in using our beads to meditate on each of these statements. For this first week, let’s focus on the entire verse: “Be still, and know that I AM GOD.” Our world is full of war, famine, disaster, violence, and heartache. We yearn to know that we are not alone. It is important for us to remember that there is a God, one who loves us and is preparing to redeem us. Use each of your beads to repeat the verse over and over. As you do, be still, and know that you are not alone. God is with you. Thanks be to God.

Cross: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

With Each Bead: ”Be still, and know that I AM GOD.” (Psalm 46:10, NIV)

Cross: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.