Welcome back again. In this session, we explore the nature of God.
Lesson 3 intro – under construction
To Learn—
For the Soul:
One of the many pitfalls involved in a grief journey is all the busy-ness that results from the changes during loss. The challenge then become finding a way to quiet our mind, our body and our spirit and find true rest. With everything spinning around us, concentration and peace become impossible.
So what do we do to combat this? Be still.
Deliberate stillness.
Unplug, sit down, be still and contemplate.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.
Be still. And know.
Know? That’s a really loaded word.
[1. to perceive or understand as fact or truth; 2. to have established or fixed in the mind or memory; 3. to be cognizant or aware of; 4. be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report]
So, if I KNOW that He is God:
- I accept that as fact or truth. No questions. He is God. Period.
- I establish His God-ness in my mind and memory. He is God. He will always be God. Nothing will change that.
- I will be aware that He is God. That He is in control. That He is with me. That I am not alone. I will make the conscious decision to think on these things and notice His work in my daily life.
- I am acquainted with Him as God. I spend time with Him. I recognize His presence, His voice and His comfort.
One of the fastest ways for me to enter a state of stillness and KNOW that HE is GOD is to worship. When I stop and PRAISE HIM, it changes my focus and my pace.
“Revelation Song” by Kari Jobe is a great example of worship.
Our prayer this session: “You are God.”
For the Heart: Scripture to memorize
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.
For the Body:
Sleep vs. Rest. Healing requires energy. But loss often chases sleep away. It may be tempting to just keep going since sleep eludes us. This leads to exhaustion. So instead of pushing on when you can’t find sleep, take time to rest. Turn off your electronics and the lights. Close your eyes and quiet your mind. How? One way is to focus on your breathing: See below for specifics.
For the Mind:
Gifts to Give Yourself: Create a quiet space in your home where you can have “alone time” for those moments when you are ready to process your grief.
- Turn off the phone.
- Turn off the TV. Find the silence and be still.
- Favorite smells and/or music can be very powerful memory triggers. They can also be a source of comfort.
- Consider a long soaking bath with a scented candle nearby as the only light source.
- Taking a walk in nature can provide more than just a change of scenery. Fresh air and new sights can help us to still the rush of busy-ness.
- Be Gentle with Yourself: Grief is a long and difficult journey that most of us didn’t get a chance to prepare for. Each person’s journey is different, so we must pledge to let the journey be the journey. While we can make a conscious effort to progress through this time, it is unreasonable to set a deadline or to berate ourselves if the days don’t meet some arbitrary expectation.
- Breathe: When things get overwhelming, stop and take deep breaths. There is an art to this: Breathe in through your nose, and exhale slowly through pursed lips. Pause between breaths. (Just long enough to think, “Be still and know” would work.) Repeat 5-8 times.
- Neurographic Art: Use the techniques from this video to calm your mind. Under construction
To Create— (This course is designed for Art Journaling, but you should use whatever media you prefer.)
Remember, the following assignments are optional. Complete them or not in whatever order fits your needs. This is your journey. Do not let this course add stress. Let me remind you that my art samples are only intended as a starting point for your own creations.
It’s a Heart Thing – (4/12)
Doodled Heart
Draw a large heart on page 4/12. As we practice the “Be Still” idea in this session, take your time and make repeated doodle marks on each line of your heart. (I did mine on lined paper) In at least one line, use the words “Be Still.” Focus on this idea as you doodle. (Examples of doodles might include: circles, triangles, loops, squares, checkerboards, arches, chevrons, waves, etc.) Add color if you wish.
It’s an Art Thing:
“You are God.” In your journal, make a page for this session’s prayer.
It’s a Writing Thing:
Vitamins In the back of your journal, write today’s date. Each day, “Take your vitamins” and add 1 new thing you are thankful for. Just 1 a day is all you need.
Peaceful Place. Describe your favorite peaceful place or an ideal spot you may not have actually visited. A place where it is easy to just sit and BE STILL. Be as detailed as you can, using all your senses. Make it so realistic that you feel you are really there. (Or you could illustrate this spot in your journal as an art activity.)
It’s a Feeling Thing (Stages of Grief):
Pick 2. Select 2 of the stages of grief and illustrate them using your favorite media. Create a vivid picture that represents that feeling or the way you have found to best deal with it.
To Extend—
Dig: Search these additional scriptures to dig deeper –
- Deut. 27:9
- Hab. 2:20
Select one (or more) of the following scriptures or quotes to illustrate or letter in your journal.
Scripture:
- Psalm 37:7(NIV) “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.”
- Exodus 14:14(NIV) “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
- Zechariah 2:13(NIV) ” Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”
Quotes:
- You are worth believing in.
- The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
- For additional quotes, check my Pinterest board “Be Still and Know” here.
Don’t Forget:
- My prayer team and I are praying for you daily.
One last thing…
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, I invite you to meet Him. For more information, click here.
Disclaimer: While I am a certified school counselor, I do not offer this course as a replacement for one-on-one personal therapy. This is an art journaling course designed to approach the grief process through Biblical scripture. If you feel your grief is beyond your control, please call 911 or speak to a health professional.