Chapter 3: Stillness
CHOOSING PRESENCE PP. 34-36
Highlight the importance of practicing stillness to truly understand and experience its benefits.
Summary
It’s not enough to just understand stillness—you have to actually practice it to experience its power. Knowing about stillness and actually living it are two very different things. This section of Choosing Presence encourages you to make stillness a regular part of your day, not just something you think about, but something you do. The more you intentionally practice it, the more you’ll feel its impact—bringing a deeper sense of peace and a stronger connection with God.
The answer is yes, it really is that simple to understand, but you have to do it to get it. It’s not about the answer; it’s about the action.
— Choosing Presence, p. 35
A Moment for Reflection
Pause for a moment and reflect on the following three questions:
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Think about whether you intellectually understand the value of stillness, mindfulness, or presence but find it difficult to put into action. What holds you back?
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Consider an easy way to integrate stillness into your daily routine, even for just a few minutes. How might this shift your mindset and experience of peace?
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Reflect on past moments when action deepened your faith or sense of presence. How did the experience change when you moved from thought into practice?
Deepening the Practice: Journal Prompt
Understanding the value of stillness is one thing—actually practicing it is another. Choosing Presence reminds us that real transformation doesn’t come from thinking about stillness but from living it. Just like reading about exercise won’t make you stronger, reading about presence won’t bring you peace unless you put it into practice. Making stillness a daily habit, even in small ways, is what truly deepens your connection with God and brings lasting inner calm.
Think about an area of your life where you “know” what would help you feel more peaceful but struggle to follow through. What holds you back from practicing stillness regularly? Is it distractions, doubt, busyness, or something else? Write about one simple step you can take today to move from understanding stillness to actually experiencing it. How do you think committing to this small change could impact your relationship with God and your sense of presence?