Less Doing, More Being

In God’s Presence.

Celebrating the New Year is always a time for us to reset, reflect, and refocus. This makes sense because it allows us time to think about what happened over the last 12 months and a way to determine our priorities for the next 12 months. At this point, we usually create a list of to-dos. We consider the actions we need to take to become a better version of ourselves. We stack our agenda with monthly goals, trips, events, and more.

But staying busy is not usually God’s plan for us. Often, we feel like doing less makes us less productive. Yes, in some cases, that can be true, but a lot of times, we can be doing a lot and not actually doing much at all. The illusion of doing multiple things makes us feel better about ourselves. Sometimes sitting with ourselves is uncomfortable, but sitting in God’s presence is where we experience true intimacy with him. So often we feel as if we cannot hear from God, but I think sometimes that’s because we are so busy searching for something that is already waiting for us. We spend so much time looking for purpose and it’s found when we sit in God’s presence.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

We know Jesus to have performed many miracles during his lifetime. However, The Bible also shows us how he often went away to be with Lord only. Even in the Old Testament we see God calling the Prophets to spend unhurried alone time with him. It is in these moments that God revealed himself and His will for them.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

When we are busy doing a lot it’s easy to miss things. How many times have you had a busy day moving as normal and at the end of the day we realize we forgot to do something? Our minds are trained to always be thinking and going. We must intentionally take the time to quiet our minds. With all the anxieties of this world, there is always something on our minds. Research shows that the average person has 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. That’s a lot!

God called Moses to the burning bush to meet with Him. It is in this place that God told him that he would go to Pharaoh and bring the people out of Egypt. Moses also went away to meet God on the mountain which is where he received the Ten Commandments. God needs our undivided attention to unleash his power and next steps for us.

We have many personal responsibilities and actions attached to our calling. To gain the wisdom and strength needed to achieve things, we must spend time being in the presence of God. It is where we gain and build our foundation. It is where God builds our character. As a result of this time spent in the presence of God, we are pruned and molded into exactly who God is calling us to be. Our actions and deeds flow out as an outcome of this unhurried time.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1

To spend time in the Lord’s presence, revives the soul. It quenches our thirst. It reestablishes connection with our Heavenly Father. It renews our strength. It gives us a sense of security and provision. It is in His presence that we receive the peace and hope that we are desperately in need of in a scorched land.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Sometimes we are physically present but mentally absent. When we spend intentional time in God’s presence, we can give Him our full concentration. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Simply “BE”. When we sit and remember that God is God, it should bring peace and calmness to our soul. ‘Being’ allows us to experience God’s intimacy and rest, while ‘doing’ allows us to actively use our God-given gifts to serve others. Both are very important, but more often we don’t make time for the being. Our main focus is building our relationship with Christ. As a result, we become His hands and feet on earth. All our efforts apart from the Holy Spirit are meaningless. When we abide in Him, we bear much fruit!

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John 15:5-6

One reference we have is when Jesus stopped by the home of Martha and Mary on his way to Bethany.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42

Jesus reminds us that sometimes we are worried about the wrong things. Listening to what He had to say in that moment was what was needed.

So, before you go filling your New Year’s schedule with everything you want to do and accomplish, remember that God wants to spend time with you as well! Put that at the top of your list and keep it a priority. It’s the most important relationship you can foster because from it we are transformed to the best version of ourselves. It is in His presence where he will reveal His will for our lives. Don’t worry about the actions, just meet with Him and the sanctification will follow.

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