The Gift of Presence — Reclaiming Stillness in a Busy Season

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Well, hello, my valued listeners, and welcome to a brand new month of living in your power.
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I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf. And can you believe it?
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We've made it to December.
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This, my dear listeners, is the final month of the year.
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And when it comes to joy, reflection, and sacred stillness of the season.
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So our theme for this month is the gift of presence, finding joy,
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faith, and focus in the season.
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Because before you rush to buy gifts, God invites us to unwrap His presence.
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And today's episode, the first in our December series, is entitled, The Gift of Presence.
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Reclaiming stillness in a busy season.
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Now let's be honest. December can be beautiful. And it is.
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But it can also be busy.
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I mean between work deadlines, family gatherings, holiday shopping,
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and the pressure to end the year strong.
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It's easy to find ourselves running on empty.
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We're everywhere but present Our calendars are full But our spirits are weary
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And sometimes in all the doing We forget that God's greatest invitation Isn't to perform,
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It's to pause.
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Psalm 46.10 tells us to be still and know that I am God.
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Now that's not a suggestion. That's in fact a command to remember who's in control.
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Because stillness isn't laziness. It's trust.
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It's saying, Lord, I don't have to do everything because you already have everything in your hands.
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Now in my old life, I've had to learn this to hardly.
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Yes, yes I have. I mean, there were years when I would try to make Christmas perfect.
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Every gift had to be wrapped beautifully. Every event had to be attended.
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And every task crossed off the list.
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Nothing would be left undone.
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But one day God whispered to my heart he said listen chica listen kiddo you
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can't experience peace if you're too busy trying to manage everything I already control.
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And that changed everything for me. Because now, I protect my stillness.
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I make time for Sabbath rest, not as an afterthought, but as a spiritual practice.
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Because when I slow down, I can actually hear Him.
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When I stop running, I can actually feel His presence.
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And when I give myself permission to be instead of always do,
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I find joy again in the simple, sacred joy.
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Now if you're ready to reclaim stillness, here are three simple ways that you can start to speak.
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Now the first, create sacred pauses.
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We've done this before, where you remember to take five minutes each morning
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before checking your phone, close your eyes, inhale deeply.
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And say, God, I'm here. Lead my day.
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Next, simplify what you can do.
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Understand that every yes has a cost.
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So if it doesn't serve your peace, your purpose, or your people,
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it might be a no for this season.
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And the third, schedule rest like an appointment.
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Block time in your calendar that says unavailable, resting.
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You deserve that space to breathe and restore your mind.
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Stillness does not mean stepping away from your responsibility.
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It means showing up from a place of peace instead of pressure.
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Now let's come back a bit to Psalm 46. Where it says, be still and know that I am God.
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Let's break that down. Be still.
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Not because life is calm, but because He is constant.
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Be still Not because the world has slowed down But because your soul can.
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So here's your empowerment prop for this week This week I want you to journal
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Yes, journal I know journal is a challenge but we can do it This week I want you to journal,
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Where have I allowed busyness to steal my peace?
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What would stillness look like for me right now?
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And how can I make room for God's presence each day?
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So I'll repeat those three journal prompts.
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I want you to journal. Where have I allowed busyness to steal my peace?
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What would stillness look like to me right now?
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And how can I make room for God's presence each day?
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Remember, you're not behind. You are being refined.
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And sometimes, slowing down is the most powerful step forward.
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Now in closing, my dear listeners, as we wrap, as we step into this holiday
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season, I hope you remember that presence is the true gift.
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Stillness is the wrapping that lets you see it clearly.
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You don't have to chase peace. You can choose it. And when you do,
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you will find that everything you've been praying for has been waiting quietly within you all along.
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I want to thank you for joining me today for this first episode in our December
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series, The Gift of Presence.
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Finding joy, faith, and focus in the season.
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I will see you or
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you will hear me next week For
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another powerful conversation on finding joy
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beyond the noise It's a message I know your heart will need Now you've been
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listening to Living in Your Power And until next time I want you to live boldly
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in your power today And if it gets tough Just breathe,
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You still got the strength to rise So until next time, dear listeners.