Returning to Joy: Embracing Stillness and Connection

Devotional

Day 1: Be Still and Know That I Am God

The world constantly urges us to do more, get more, and think more, but true peace and insight come when we quiet our minds and return to the stillness where we can recognize the presence of God. In the midst of our busyness and striving, we are invited to pause, to be still, and to remember that we are not self-created but divinely made, and that our deepest fulfillment is found in reconnecting with our Creator. This stillness is not about inactivity, but about opening ourselves to the divine presence that brings clarity, healing, and joy. [50:33]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Reflection: When was the last time you intentionally set aside all distractions to simply be still before God? Can you carve out 15 minutes today to sit in silence, letting go of your thoughts and concerns, and simply rest in His presence?

Day 2: The Road Less Traveled Leads to Transformation

Life often presents us with a choice between following the well-worn path of anxiety, striving, and self-reliance, or taking the road less traveled—a path of spiritual practice, inner stillness, and conscious connection with God. Choosing this less traveled road, through daily prayer and meditation, opens us to a life of harmony, joy, and true fulfillment, making all the difference in how we experience the world and ourselves. [35:13]

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Reflection: What is one habit or pattern in your life that keeps you on the “well-worn path” of worry or self-reliance? What would it look like to choose the “road less traveled” today by practicing stillness or prayer instead?

Day 3: Remain in Proximity to Your Creator

Just as a beloved dog runs free but always stays within reach of its master, we are called to live courageously and creatively, yet always remain in close relationship with our Creator. When we stray too far, we lose our sense of direction and peace, but when we stay in proximity—through daily spiritual practice and openness to God’s guidance—we find our way back to joy, inspiration, and our true nature. [45:23]

John 15:4-5 (ESV)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Reflection: In what ways have you drifted from a sense of closeness with God? What is one step you can take today to intentionally draw near and remain in proximity to your Creator?

Day 4: Meditation Is the Gateway to Divine Insight

Meditation is not just a spiritual exercise but the gateway to light, clarity, and the holy instant where every problem finds its answer and every conflict is resolved. In quietness, we access the presence of God, allowing His wisdom and love to flow into our lives, transforming our minds and hearts so that we can live moment to moment with peace, courage, and purpose. [58:24]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are seeking answers or resolution? Can you commit to bringing this into a time of quiet meditation today, trusting God to meet you in the stillness?

Day 5: Return to Your True Nature Through Spiritual Practice

At the core of every person is the divine presence, and we are invited to return to our true nature by daily aligning ourselves with God through meditation, prayer, and openness. When we let go of the illusion of separation and embrace our God-given identity, we rediscover the joy, love, and aliveness we were created to experience, living each day in harmony with our Creator and ourselves. [01:01:21]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally reconnect with your true, God-given nature today? How might a daily spiritual practice help you live more fully from this place of divine presence?

Sermon Summary

So many of us live our lives in a constant state of busyness, anxiety, and striving, believing that fulfillment will come from getting more, doing more, and planning for every possible outcome. Yet, when we look at the simple joy and presence of a dog, we see a creature that is fully alive in the present moment, unburdened by the worries and complexities that weigh us down. The dog is not free from activity—he is always busy—but he is at peace because he is simply being, not striving. This is a profound lesson for us: our true peace and joy are not found in relentless striving, but in learning to be present, to let go, and to live from our true nature.

Humanity has, over time, become addicted to “getting”—to acquiring, achieving, and controlling—rather than “letting,” flowing, and growing in joyful awareness. This addiction has led us away from the deep spiritual truth that we are not self-created, but divinely created, and that our fulfillment comes from living in conscious relationship with our Creator. We have forgotten how to be still, how to simply be, and in doing so, we have lost touch with the source of our peace, joy, and love.

Nature, and even our animal companions, can show us the way home—to a life lived in the present, in harmony with our true selves and with God. The “road less traveled” is not an external path, but an inward journey—a daily practice of stillness, meditation, and openness to the divine presence within us. Just as a dog remains in proximity to its master, always able to return when called, we are invited to remain in proximity to our Creator, to return again and again to that place of stillness where we can hear the voice of God and receive the guidance, peace, and love we truly seek.

This is not a passive or escapist way of living, but a courageous return to our true nature. It is a path that requires practice, intention, and humility—a willingness to let go of our illusions of control and to trust in the loving presence of God. Through meditation and quietness, we access the “holy instant,” where every problem is resolved, and we are restored to the fullness of life for which we were created.

Key Takeaways

1. The addiction to “getting” rather than “letting” is at the root of much of our suffering. When we are constantly striving to acquire, achieve, or control, we lose touch with the natural flow of life and the joy that comes from simply being. True spiritual growth begins when we shift from a mindset of acquisition to one of openness, receptivity, and trust in the divine flow. [28:26]
2. Our culture has conditioned us to believe that we are separate, self-sufficient beings, but this is an illusion. We are not self-created; we are divinely created, and our deepest fulfillment comes from living in conscious relationship with our Creator. Technology and intellect cannot substitute for this essential connection, no matter how advanced they become. [36:51]
3. The “road less traveled” is the inward journey of spiritual practice—prayer, meditation, and contemplation. This path is not about escaping the world, but about transforming our consciousness so that we can live harmoniously, joyfully, and lovingly in the world. It is a daily return to the presence of God, where we find the guidance and peace we truly need. [48:07]
4. Remaining in proximity to God is essential for navigating life’s challenges. Just as a dog always knows how to return to its master, we are called to maintain an ongoing relationship with our Creator, returning again and again to the source of our being. This relationship is cultivated through stillness, openness, and a willingness to listen for the divine voice within. [45:23]
5. Meditation is not just a spiritual luxury, but a necessity for living a life of peace, clarity, and purpose. In the quietness of meditation, we access the “holy instant” where every problem is resolved and we are restored to our true nature. Even in the most desperate circumstances, as seen in the story of the Thai boys trapped in the cave, meditation can be a gateway to survival, hope, and transformation. [58:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Overcoming Obstacles to Gather
[02:30] - The Wisdom of Dogs: Joy in the Present
[05:10] - Busyness vs. Presence
[08:00] - The “Getting” Addiction
[12:00] - What the Masters Have Taught
[15:00] - Nature as Our Teacher
[18:00] - Remembering How to Be
[21:00] - The Road Less Traveled
[26:00] - The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency
[29:00] - Returning to Love and God
[32:00] - The Dog and the Master: A Parable
[36:00] - Proximity to the Creator
[39:00] - The Inward Journey of Meditation
[42:00] - The Power of Stillness and the Holy Instant
[46:00] - The Thai Cave Rescue: Meditation in Crisis
[50:00] - Living in the Image of God
[53:00] - Invitation to Daily Meditation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 46:10 (ESV) — > “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
([50:33])

Genesis 1:27 (ESV) — > “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
([38:15])

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 46:10, what are we commanded to do, and what is the result of following this command? ([50:33])
In the sermon, what is described as the main difference between the way a dog lives and the way most people live? ([26:11])
What does the speaker say humanity has become “addicted” to, and how does this affect our relationship with God? ([28:26])
How does the story of the Thai boys trapped in the cave illustrate the importance of meditation and stillness? ([58:24])

Interpretation Questions

Why might “being still” be so difficult in our culture, and what does the sermon suggest is lost when we fail to practice it? ([31:24])
The sermon says, “We are not self-created; we are divinely created.” How does this truth challenge the way we often approach life and our problems? ([36:51])
The speaker compares our relationship with God to a dog’s relationship with its master. What does it mean to “remain in proximity” to God, and why is this important? ([45:23])
The “road less traveled” is described as an inward journey. How does this inward journey differ from the outward striving and busyness that the world encourages? ([48:07])

Application Questions

The sermon talks about the “addiction to getting” and always striving for more. In what areas of your life do you notice this addiction showing up? What is one step you could take this week to practice “letting” instead of “getting”? ([28:26])
“Be still and know that I am God.” What is one practical way you can create space for stillness in your daily routine? What challenges might you face in doing this, and how could you overcome them? ([50:33])
The speaker says that we have forgotten how to simply “be.” When was the last time you felt truly present and at peace? What was different about that moment? ([31:24])
The story of the dog always returning to its master is used as a picture of our relationship with God. What helps you “return” to God when you feel far away? Is there a practice (like prayer, meditation, or something else) that helps you stay close? ([45:23])
The sermon mentions that technology and intellect cannot substitute for a real relationship with our Creator. Are there ways that technology distracts you from being present with God? What boundaries could you set to help with this? ([36:51])
The Thai cave rescue story shows how meditation brought calm and hope in a crisis. Have you ever experienced God’s peace in a difficult situation? What did you do to access that peace? ([58:24])
The “road less traveled” requires intention and humility. What is one area of your life where you need to let go of control and trust God more? How can your small group support you in this? ([48:07])

Sermon Clips

Neither do you. Neither do you. You see, what has happened with mankind is he has turned life into a getting addiction instead of a letting, flowing, growing in joy awareness. So, you may not get very much else. You don't have to. Just think about this line. Mankind has turned life into a getting addiction instead of a letting, flowing, growing in joy awareness. And that is all that the masters down through the ages have ever been speaking to. They have forever, through their enlightened connection with the divine, expressed what it is that mankind needs to do to realize he has been granted a life truly worth living. [00:29:08]

People quite often don't realize that there is another path, another way to be alive than the way we first have experienced living. In other words, we were born and raised in a world that has already been accepting the insanity of humanity. And we were born and raised in that world and we're carrying on the insanity of our forefathers. Whether we know it or not, we may think we're not, but we realize that we have so many concerns, so many problems, so many difficulties, we just don't know how to live life harmoniously, effectively, joyfully, beautifully, lovingly. We don't know. And yet, what we were created to live just like that. But because we don't know it, we're not living it. [00:33:09]

So you see, we're in life, and we think we're traveling on the road of life. But we're traveling on the road of life as it has been created in our thinking. We're living life as we were led to believe it exists. And we even had our, what we used to think was the science, that proved that we were strictly separate physical bodies, in a world of separate physical phenomena, and that we had to always be somewhat defensive, at least, in order to make sure that our personal needs, wants, and desires could be met. And maybe if we could get enough of our personal needs, wants, expectations, and desires met, we'd ultimately have harmony, and we'd have peace, and we'd have joy, and we'd have love. But why isn't that the case? What did we really give up? We lost the awareness that we are not self -created. [00:35:46]

We lost the awareness that we are not self -created. We really think in this limited thinking of the world, that we've got that which it takes to make ourselves complete, happy, fulfilled, and joyous, and we keep looking at all the technology that we've contrived and brought to bear in manifestation, and we keep telling ourselves that the technology is going to finally bail us out of all the crazy, insane sickness, suffering, despair, and disillusionment that we suffer, technology, we'll come up with something, oh, I know what it will be, it'll be the AI, artificial intelligence is going to do it for us. Give it up. You are not self -created, and the technology is not going to do it. [00:36:59]

Give it up. You are not self -created, and the technology is not going to do it. The only thing that's going to do it, Marianne Williams tried to let you know in her book, you're going to have to return to love, and in order to do that you're going to have to return to knowing some relationship with your Creator, who we refer to as God. Oh, we thought we could get by without him, without her, without it. Who needs God? We're so self -possessed, involved in the thinking that has never brought us insight, intuition, peace of mind, love, healing, and joy, never brought us that. The whole place is sick. [00:38:04]

The only thing that's going to do it, Marianne Williams tried to let you know in her book, you're going to have to return to love, and in order to do that you're going to have to return to knowing some relationship with your Creator, who we refer to as God. Oh, we thought we could get by without him, without her, without it. Who needs God? We're so self -possessed, involved in the thinking that has never brought us insight, intuition, peace of mind, love, healing, and joy, never brought us that. The whole place is sick. [00:38:15]

We were made in the image and likeness of God. Did he set it up so that we would live lives and be totally forever, you know, inundated with some kind of illness, concern, fear, sickness, until we finally perished? Is that what the plan was? No. The plan was that you would come to the road less traveled, the road that the Masters have traveled and have attempted to relate to you. [00:39:31]

Just like Teton, God has released us into life and said to us, live from your nature. Seek that which inspires you. Share that which inspires you. Be creative. Be brave. Be courageous. Go into life and live life. But always remain in proximity of your creator. You cannot find your way in life without remaining in some kind of alliance with your creator. And the reason why man is suffering so grievously is he has given that up. He has become too smart for his own good. [00:45:56]

I'm not sharing something from books that I read. I'm sharing from a life that I am living. Mankind has given up on what really is the essence of his life and the necessity for him to find his way back to understanding he was not self -created. He is divinely created and there is a divine essential plan residing at the heart of every human being. But man has become too smart for his own good and then doesn't know how to feel good anymore. Doesn't know how to feel good anymore. [00:47:06]

And what he will have to do he will have to turn back and start to open up to and seek to that roadless traveled that all the masters have taken. The road less traveled is the road within. It is that journey we take in prayer and meditation, in contemplation, in insight. And when we start to take that road on a daily basis, we start to receive the insight and intuition that is necessary to live beautifully, harmoniously, moment to moment to moment, just like Teton. [00:48:07]

It's not, not ever going to be great until we return to God. Because we're God made at the core of our nature is the essential presence of God. And to enter into that alliance with God, again, requires being still. What has happened with our addiction is we've never stopped trying to figure it out, make it better, work it somehow. So what Eckhart Tolle refers to as the incessant thinking has to be quieted down for there to be the quiet opening and the rising of the awareness awareness of the divine. That is meditation. That is spiritual practice. [00:49:26]

This is why in unity and in all the legitimate, authentic, spiritual movements, all the authentic masters down through the ages spoke to us. And try to get us and try to get us to understand that aligning one's consciousness with the divine requires a practice of meditation. It requires taking time each day to be still. You don't have to do it for an hour like some of the masters do, but you need to do it for 15 to 20 minutes at least. And once you do it and once you do it and once you start getting in touch with the divine, you will increase it automatically because you enter that state, you feel the divine presence of love, joy, you have insight, you have peace. This is what you're really seeking. [00:52:40]

But you have to give yourself to it because you have been so long operating in the illusion of your separation from God that it's going to take some practice for you to return to the alliance you have with your creator. [00:53:49]

Meditation is the gateway to light. And I'm going to conclude this with another quote. If you don't get anything else here coming to unity, honestly speaking, you should raise your hand with inside yourself. Do you meditate on a daily level? Stop, be quiet, open up, allow, flow with the subtle guiding presence of your Creator? [00:58:24]

When I'm speaking about conflict it means the world. The world that has become too smart for its own good, has left its relationship with its own creator. That's the conflict. And in that conflict what is one point of view is not an answer in another light. You are in conflict as long as you are operating strictly in the world and the thinking of the world. Thus it must be clear you cannot answer anything at all for conflict has no limited effects. Yet if God gave an answer there must be a way in which your problems are resolved. For what he wills already has been done. Therefore God must have given you a way of reaching to another state of mind in which the answer is already there. Such is the holy instant. The holy instant can be accessed through meditation. [00:59:31]

The holy instant can be accessed through meditation. The holy moment, the holy awareness, entering into the presence of your divinity and then understanding fully that you live moment to moment fearlessly knowing what is required, what is appropriate, what is right and good and beautiful and healing. Knowing that. Knowing that. Living that. that. That's what we were born to have. That's what being made in the image and likeness of a benevolent creator gave us. [01:00:36]

The holy moment, the holy awareness, entering into the presence of your divinity and then understanding fully that you live moment to moment fearlessly knowing what is required, what is appropriate, what is right and good and beautiful and healing. Knowing that. Knowing that. Living that. that. That's what we were born to have. That's what being made in the image and likeness of a benevolent creator gave us. [01:00:42]

Just like I said to my dog, your nature is to run. Your nature is to hunt. When you do that you're going to be one with your nature. And so I turn my dog loose. And God has done the same thing. He has turned us loose. And my dog has always remained in proximity. Would always return to me. Are you ready to return to your creator on a daily basis through meditation? [01:01:21]

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