Talk about inspiring. I mean really inspiring. I was asked to review a new film by Lisa Chan — wife of Francis Chan — called “Be Still.” And friends, it was so worth the watch.
Check out her short promo video.
Her message resonates with the beat of my heart. That we wouldn’t play church. That we would take God at His Word. That we would truly, intimately commune with the Lover of our soul…not because He commands us, but because doing so is life to us.
He’s life to us.
Near the end of the film Lisa says, “I don’t think it’s possible to know God without being still and putting the time and effort into your relationship with Him.” Be. Still.
This film is worth the watch, friends. It will inspire you and challenge you, encourage you and bless you. Click here to find out how to get your own copy today.
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
GIVEAWAY!
Also, one special person will win a DVD copy of the film. Seriously. You want this. Just leave a comment below telling me one thing that pulls at your attention and tries to steal the time you could give to “being still” with God.
You can also get an extra entry by sharing this post on Facebook or Twitter. Just leave me a comment below telling me which one you did.
The winner will be announced on Friday, 9/7.
What pulls at me right now is the worry over my homeschool responsibilities for each day. My mind races and I am easily distracted during my quiet time, even when there are no physical distractions.
Getting up late steals my God time.
Tweeted: @shellebo29
Love the Chan’s. Thanks for this giveaway (=
My mac and everything I can do with it steals my time w/Him.
My lack of patience steals my time. I’m always thinking of what’s next and when I can get to it.
Just the “to-do’s” in general….the notsoimportant, canwaittilllater to-do’s
Psalm 46:10 Be Still and know I am God. Sometimes for me the translations must read. JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN to my whisper. Sometimes that shout out gets my attention so that when He whispers it won’t pass me by. The busy world of responsibilites steal my listening.
The clock – I get worried about being late to get the kids to school, etc
Just one thing? There’s the laundry, dishes, generally pickup, the animals, not to mention being lazy, changes in schedules. Time to get in gear and go be still
What pulls me away is my constant need to feel fulfilled by completing tasks.
Sounds very good! I think feeling like I need to be “do”ing instead of just sitting and enjoying being in His presence many times is a distraction.
Wow. I WANT this. Because I so need to hear it. I’m distracted by everything – my sweet little crazy boys, my icky, messy house, my job. I prayed just this morning in the shower for focus and then got distracted just by washing my hair. (I’m also distracted by lack of sleep, can you tell?). Thanks for your generosity and your words of encouragement!
Tweeted this as @linzyann.
Wow! This looks like a great video to not only remind me during all the things that pull at me, but also as a tool to mentor other women. The feeling of community that we all have stresses, but to be still and reflect on where God wants us to be is a constant for all of us.
How do I pick just one thing that distracts me? There are so many things in my day that pull my thoughts away from the Lord, my kids, the to-do list, reading books on my new eReader, the Internet and blogs, Facebook… I could go on.
Honestly, my own will and wants pull me. Doesn’t matter if its extra “to do” work around the house, a book I want to finish, a craft I want to accomplish, meeting with friends, preparing my “after school schooling” for my daughter, trying to keep up with online life, ect. When my will say’s “not right now Lord”, I know I have taken control and God will be left behind.
Just shared this on Facebook 🙂
Lingering too long on the computer pulls me away from too many things lately. I’m thinking I need a timer! But i’m glad I didn’t miss this. would love to see it!
Tweeted! @ Simplystriving
That’s easy: Facebook and other social media. They have their place, but sometimes I need to unplug and prioritize!
What steals my time is social media. Needing grace.
Tweeting this.
Jill
My selfishness…it’s everywhere I turn.
Lara, what distracts me is the need “to do”. Anything. I can easily wed a list of things to do whether in homeschool, around the house, for AWANA, … but I desperately want to hear well done. I want to continue to grow in likeness of Christ. Thank you for always sharpening me and speaking raw truth. Love you girl.
fb’d also Lara
The valleys of life often distract me, but when i focus on Him during these times, His presence is magnetic. Would love to see this film. Might be perfectly timed.. Thanks!!
One hubby, seven children, five in-love-children, 11 grandchildren (and another on the way), homeschooling, elderly parents: one with Alzheimers, part-time job outside the home…..oh! AND one very needy dog and one needy cat!
Lara,
Love getting your daily blogs…miss you and thankful to see how much God is using you.
I would say my family is my biggest pull away from time with the Lord. I have a tendency to put them above Him, whether it be spending time with them or serving them or yes, even worrying about them!
Just shared this on Facebook but accidentally on my husband’s page! 🙂
what pulls me away is trying to be a good wife, homeschooling mom, friend etc and feeling like I fail at all my roles.
shared your post on facebook
what what an amazing inspiring film.. it kinda makes it feel real when someone like her who is constantly surrounded by “christian” things still struggles to find that stillness before God.. definitely sharing on my fb and twitter accounts.. I think even in the midst of doing “christiany” things we often forget to be still before him.. thats where i struggle.. doing things FOR Him and not WITH Him.
As a first year teacher in Mississippi I am far away from home back in Seattle. I would say that everything around me has been pulling on me and trying to keep me from resting in my Savior. One thing above the rest is my own legalistic tendency to try and do it all on my own. Teaching, encouraging my roommates, staying in His word consistently, witness to the lost, stay on the straight path while in a completely foreign place. God has been ministering to me so much since I moved out to MS, especially about resting in him and not trying to earn His grace or love.
What pulls on me is giving my family my all (homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, one-on-one time, etc) during the day and not taking that time for me and God.
I just shared on twitter.
what doesn’t steal my time?…though i suppose steal isn’t the right word…i suppose if i’m honest, i give it away 🙁
I would be very interested in this video.
Right now it’s my little ones – by December I will have 4 children 5 and under. I’m trying to get up earlier in the mornings, but it doesn’t always happen. Definitely something I am working on daily though.
I feel like Martha – “Martha, Martha, you are distracted by MANY THINGS…” Many things. I think the biggest would be all the housework there is to be done. I work outside the home, so it seems there is never enough time to even get caught up, much less stay ahead. *sigh*
Shared on FB! 🙂
What pulls at me and distracts? Only one thing? Work responsibilities, dinner plans, getting to bed on time, fitting in exercise.
Thank YOU for the reminder that it is MOST important to be still in the presence of God.
Shared this great giveaway with my Twitter followers…. @girlgrowsup
Time puller is volunteer work. Never still
Planning. As soon as I sit down to be still, my mind races, my hands reach for a pen, and 9 thoughts for 5 categories want to spill out of me.
I tweeted my tweeps with this goodness!
What pulls at me? Constantly trying to finish all the things on my “do”list instead of just being….checking in on social media before my quiet time is a definite no-no, or I get sucked in, wanting to make sure no one is left out. Trying to be all things to everyone when I should be concentrating on letting The ONE be my everything.
shared on facebook & twitter also! Thanks Lara – this is great!
One of my very favorite Bible verses i s”be still and Know that I am God” .Trying to be still and quiet is a real challenge for me
my interest in knowledge, information – i know that God is all I need!! I have begun the practice of silence several years ago…very interested in the dvd
i love knowledge and information….i know God is all I need. I started trying to practice silence several years ago and am very interested in the dvd
since school started it has been my sleep, or lack of it with having to be up at 5:30 to get four kids where they need to be… and getting up even earlier than that has not been a reality for me.
LAst night i spent at least an hour on instagram and Facebook. I am stressed with homework and use those sights to procrastinate, I end up comparing myself with everyone who posts and i just feel so empty and depressed at the end of the day. I should run to Jesus and have him fill me up. Because only God can truly encourage me.
Oh how can I pick just one thing? There are so many things that distract me, lazy, excuses like my son woke up 4 times and 10 more minutes of disrupted sleep will help, computer time, just not wanting to be late and also not telling my family that I need to make quiet time a priority and then being held accountable. I use my family as an excuse a lot. I don’t want to make my already hard working husband have to take on more things, my kids need me, etc. But He is ever so gently and patiently pulling me closer and my desire to be with Him is getting stronger. I will get there, with His amazing help.
Brada
We have an injured doggie. I know that sounds like it has nothing to do with your post, but follow me on this….
We are trying so hard to keep her still in order for her to heal and hopefully be whole again. But she fights it. Even though it is what is best for her, she wants to do too much, and gets angry when I stop her (yes, sweet little girl dogs get angry sometimes).
I, myself, fight being still. I want to DO and go and earn and get and…I’m fighting it. I have forgotten to KNOW and feel and receive…grace, mercy, love…still.
What steals my time is the anxious thoughts that come regarding all of the responsibilities I have as a single parent & of a specialneeds son. Knowing this is a tactic of the enemy;because I know God is faithful & has been all these 39 yrs! Then of course, if I oversleep! It’s really on then!
The world pulls and pulls and pulls, distractions in every shape and size, but I know that I KNOW that I must find still time in Him or I am lost…
Just tweeted about this great giveaway! https://twitter.com/HisFireFly/status/243755047794642944
For me it’s my inner flesh woman.
She wants to sit down in front of the computer,check out blog posts and check emails instead of just being still and listen to God. There’s hope though because I know I have the resources to overcome flesh woman through his power.
Not waking early enough to spend time with God before my girls wake up.
There are so many things that pull at my time. Right now the number one thing that pulls at my time is my job. I teach in a middle school and find that I not only leave work late, I bring it home with me in the evenings and weekends…I feel like my life revolves around my job and not my God or family. I find myself miserable with no relief.
Facebook! 🙁 Really social media!!