As I read in Colossians this morning, I camped out on the following verse. Colossians 1:11 "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.  May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father."

Paul knew this path would be trying.  He knew from experience that these people, these fellow believers in Christ would need endurance and patience.  He prayed those things for them.  What a great thing to pray for our family and friends, endurance, patience and joy.

As I read that verse this morning I sat and mediated on it a while.  I sat in my living room with the washer, dryer, and dishwasher all running and two dogs barking.  I remember thinking there is nothing quiet about this moment.  And God spoke to my heart and said the quiet isn't about the noise or lack of.  (Though sometimes that does make it easier.)  The quiet and stillness are about the condition of your heart.

Is your mind already running in circles?  Are you already stressed about the day?  Are you already making list in your head of what needs done today, this week?  Are you anxious, are you worried?  If so, no lack of noise is going to change that.  You have to find the quiet within, in the deepest parts of your soul.

I continued to think about that on my way to work.  I said God that quiet is easy to find here in my car, all alone, listening to christian music and talking to you.  But what about when I get to work?  When a phone call comes in with an issue I have to deal with.  When a driver doesn't like a run he is on.  When I brush up against other people and things don't go as planned.  When someone says something that I don't like or that hurts my feelings.

God said remember when Brittany and Chris were little and you would lay out their clothes for the next day?  How it made life easier because you didn't have to deal with those decisions in the morning?  God said I have already laid out your plan for the day.  Nothing is going to take me by surprise.  I already know what is going to happen, I have already laid out the day.  There is no reason for you to worry or stress.

My next thought was, what will I do all day with that time I would have spend worrying and stressing?  God said what I created you to do.  Worship and praise me.  Spend time listening to others.  Take time to notice others, to stop and give a smile, to be kind and grant grace to those around me.

I never thought about how much wasted time I spend each day worrying and stressing about things I really can't change or  have no control over.  Francis Chan in his book "Crazy Love" says worry and stress reek of arrogance.  What a true and convicting statement.

My goal this week to find the quiet.  Not the lack of noise quiet, but the quiet that comes from a life that not only says God I know you have this, but a life that lives that out.