Starting the Year in Stillness

How comfortable are you with being still—sitting in silence and waiting for God to speak? For many of us, stillness feels uncomfortable because our world runs on constant noise and motion. And if you struggle with anxiety, slowing down can feel even harder. Fear whispers that you can’t afford to pause, that silence is unsafe, and that you must stay busy to stay in control.

But Psalm 46:10 offers a better invitation: be still, because God is God. When we remember that He’s in control, we can loosen our grip on striving. We don’t have to fear being alone with our thoughts, because we are never alone. In Christ, God meets us in the quiet—and He is enough for what lies ahead.

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

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YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear God,
Learning to be still in a noisy world can feel scary and uncomfortable. When I’m tempted to fill every moment with noise and busyness, remind me that I have permission to pause, breathe, and rest in You. Quiet the fears that creep in when I slow down, and help me trust that You are in control—even when I’m not doing anything. Teach me to practice stillness in Your presence and to listen attentively for Your voice.

I love You, praise You, and thank You, Jesus.
Amen.

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THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Practice daily stillness. Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and sit quietly before the Lord. Pray honestly, then listen. Ask God to help you be okay with silence and attentive to His voice.

2. Schedule space for quiet. Add a “Silence Minute” (or longer) to your calendar each week. Treat it like an appointment with God—time to slow down, breathe, and rest in His presence.

3. Notice what feeds your noise. Take one week to reduce input—social media, radio, or news—and journal what changes in your heart and mind. Does silence feel easier? What do you learn about what your soul truly needs?

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Life Audio.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Thank you for tuning in to your Nightly Prayer, a
podcast designed to help you rest and connect with your
Father in heaven as the day ends. God is ready
to meet you in this moment of peace. As you
settle into sleep. After this short word from our sponsor,
we'll encounter tonight's devotional starting the Year in Stillness, written

(00:30):
by Amberginter and read by your host, Brooke McLoughlin. Tonight's
scripture be Still and Know that I Am God, Psalm

(00:50):
forty six' ten something to. Ponder how comfortable are you
with being, still sitting in the silence and waiting For
god to. SPEAK i don't know about, you But i've
struggled with being still my entire, life partially because that's
how the world. Operates everyone is in a frantic frenzy

(01:13):
one hundred percent of the. Time on the other, HAND
i know THAT i hate being alone with my. THOUGHTS
i avoid sitting still as much AS i avoid driving
in the, dark and that's a. Lot as someone who
struggles with, anxiety fear loves to creep in When i'm
doing nothing or attempting to rest in The lord's. Presence

(01:36):
it tells ME i can't afford to slow down or
take a. Break satan whispers THAT i need to fill
the space with. Noise can you? Relate the good news
about Following jesus is that we can come to him
as we, are And he cares about our, struggles whether
that struggle is being, still being too addicted to be,

(02:00):
busy or concealing a secret. Sin this new year is
an opportunity to come To him with it. All. Friends
psalm forty six' ten says that we can be still
because we Know who. God is when we Recognize that
he's in control and, we're not this relieves a lot.

(02:20):
Of pressure we don't need to fear the silence or not,
being enough Because, In christ he's enough. For us your,
Nightly Prayer, dear god learning to be still in a
noisy world can be very scary and uncomfortable when we

(02:40):
are tempted to fill the noise, and, go, go. Go
NonStop remind us that we have permission, to, pause breathe
and Rest. In you help us to dismantle fear and
rest assured That in you you can silence. Every fear
help us to practice being still in your presence and

(03:03):
listening attentively for, your voice, We love praise and Thank You.
Jesus amen three things to. Meditate upon, number one do
you struggle to be still Before? The lord, if so you're.
Not alone set a timer for five to ten minutes, every,

(03:26):
morning evening or at a time that works best. For
you during, this time pour out your heart To the
lord and then ask him. To speak ask him to
help you be okay with the silence and to learn
to listen for.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
His.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Voice two the next time you're tempted to fill your
calendar to, the brim put a silence minute on. Your
calendar this could be anywhere from five minutes to, an
hour but dedicate yourself to making it a scheduled event.
Every week this practice will help you, slow down rest In,

(04:04):
the lord and get more comfortable. With silence and, number
three go a week without watching, the news listening to,
the radio or using. Social Media record if this helps
you feel more or less comfortable, With silence thank you for.

Speaker 1 (04:27):
Listening to Your, nightly prayer a production Of The Life.
Audio network if you found comfort and inspiration in, tonight's
prayer be sure to follow and Subscribe, On, apple spotify
or wherever you listen. To Podcasts follow today so you
never miss a moment of peace and reflection to end.
Your day