The Power Reset: Returning to Stillness & Discernment

Well, hello, my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power. I'm your host, Dr. Marleen Greenleaf, and I'm truly grateful to share this moment with you today. But before we go any further, I want to pause and acknowledge something significant today as many across the nation reflect and remember. We honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was a leader whose power did not come from noise, position, or popularity, but from conviction, faith, clarity, and moral courage. He understood something many of us are still learning: that true leadership is rooted in purpose, and guided by an inner stillness that listens before it moves. He once said, the time is always right to do what is right. But doing what is right requires discernment. It requires stillness, and it requires the courage to hear God clearly, even when the world is loud. I believe it's no coincidence that today's episode falls on a day that calls us to reflect deeply on leadership, service, and intentional living. So as we continue our journey through January, we are grounded in our theme, The Power Reset: Returning to What Matters, because this month is about restoring alignment, Not rushing ahead, but returning to the practices and perspectives that anchor us. And today's episode, the 3rd in our January series, is titled Returning to Stillness and Discernment. Now, in a world that rewards speed, productivity, and constant visibility, stillness is often misunderstood. We are taught that movement equals progress and that quiet means delay. But spiritually, stillness is not avoidance. It is in fact wisdom. I mean, many of us stay busy not because we're called to, but because stillness requires us to listen, and listening Sometimes reveals truths we've been avoiding. Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that I am God. Now that verse doesn't say be still once things calm down. It doesn't say be still when everything makes sense. It says be still. Right in the middle of uncertainty. Because stillness is an act of trust. It's the decision to pause long enough to remember who is in control and who is not. Now discernment is not the same as decision-making. Decision-making can happen quickly. Discernment takes time. Now in my own life, I've learned that the moments when I rushed decisions, they were often the moments I later had to revisit, repair, or undo them. But the choices I brought before God patiently and prayerfully, they carried a different kind of peace. Discernment, my dear listeners, it grows when we stop filling every moment with noise. Noise from opinions, noise from expectations, noise from comparison. 1 Kings 19, it reminds us that God did not He doesn't speak through the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but through a still, small voice. And that voice is often drowned out when we don't create space to hear it. Stillness sharpens discernment because it quiets everything competing for our attention. Now, if you've been feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or pulled in too many directions— because I know I have at times— stillness is not something you have to wait for. It's something you can practice intentionally. So here are 3 ways to begin cultivating stillness. And strengthening discernment in this season. First and foremost, of course, create daily quiet on purpose. Stillness doesn't always arrive naturally, so sometimes it must be protected. I mean, this may look like sitting in silence before the day begins. Turn off music or podcasts during a commute, or just spending time with God before opening your phone. Quiet creates room for awareness, and awareness creates clarity. Now, second, I want you to pause before you decide. Discernment grows When prayer comes before action. So before saying yes, pause. Before committing, pause. Before reacting, pause. Take a deep breath, pause. Proverbs 3:5-6, it reminds us that We need to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. So submission doesn't slow you down, but it keeps you aligned. And third, release the urgency to be certain. I mean, sometimes we rush decisions because we feel pressured to be sure. But faith does not require certainty. It, in fact, it requires trust. And discernment often unfolds gradually, one step at a time. So you don't need the full picture, just the next faithful step. So now let me— let's reflect on James 1:5, which says, If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. So wisdom is not something we have to earn. It's something we are invited to receive. I mean, God is not withholding clarity from us. He's in fact waiting for you to slow down enough to hear it. So here's your empowerment prompt for this week. Of course, take time to journal or reflect on these questions. Where in my life am I craving clarity? What noise might be preventing me from hearing God's clarity? And what decision do I need to bring before God instead of rushing through? I'm going to repeat those questions for you. Where in my life am I craving clarity? What noise might be preventing me from hearing God clearly? And what decisions do I need to bring before God instead of rushing through? So stillness is not empty space. It is sacred ground. So in closing, my friends, returning to stillness is not about escaping responsibility, but it's about leading from wisdom rather than urgency. When you slow down, you don't lose momentum. You gain direction. And when you quiet your spirit, you don't fall behind. You move forward with purpose. So as you continue this power reset, I want you to remember that clarity comes to those who are willing to listen, and wisdom flows when stillness is honored. I want to thank you for joining me today on this episode in our January series, The Power Reset: Returning to What Matters. I mean, next week we'll close out this month with a powerful conversation entitled Choosing What Matters Gently. I want to thank you again for listening to this episode of Living in Your Power, and until next time, dear listeners. Thank you. Continue to live boldly in your power today, and if it gets tough, just breathe. You still got the strength to rise. So I'll see you next time, and continue to live in your power. Thank you, Marleen.