Two-minute read.
Wildwoods Boardwalk in New Jersey bustles with life during the summer months. When we visited a few years ago, the number of people overwhelmed me. As a person who doesn’t like crowds, I felt pushed and pulled along with the flow of visitors walking along the 38-block boardwalk filled with over 100 rides, amusement piers, waterparks, and numerous eateries.
On the other hand, Myrtle Beach, SC, during the off-season, remains one of my favorite beach experiences. With very few people and empty beaches, I love going for long strolls with the pups, enjoying the steady rhythm of the waves. Peace and clarity flow over me as I enjoy the quiet shoreline.
Following Jesus resembles the quieter shoreline. Instead of people pushing and pulling us by every trend and pressure around, we begin by listening to the calm, steady voice of God. The more time we spend with the Savior, the more our hearts change, like smooth sea glass shaped over time by the water.
Some people don’t like quiet, not wanting to have time to think. They prefer to keep busy and surround themselves with others, unaware of how it influences their lives. Without thinking, we can find ourselves swept out to sea on a wave we never saw coming. But if we don’t allow ourselves to sit in the quietness of the Lord, we won’t hear His still small voice guiding and directing us away from the traps of this world.
Only in the stillness can transformation take place.
Filling our minds with God’s Word and sitting in the quietness of His presence allows His voice to speak loudest in our lives. As we transform our minds, aligning our thoughts with the Savior’s, we will discover the path He wants us to walk. And when the world presses in on us, trying to get us to go a different way, we’ll hold fast to the Lord, allowing Him to transform us.
Journal Questions:
- What voices or pressures most influence the way you think right now?
- What helps renew your mind and refocus your heart on God?
- In what area of your life is God asking you to think differently from the world?
Beach Vibe:
Let the waves remind you that God can wash away the world’s noise and renew your heart with His peace.
