Click above to listen to Quiet Place from the album The Voice (recorded at the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

What is your favorite quiet place?

Are you being intentional to invest some time there? If it is far away, do you have a next best place closer to home where you can spend quiet time? It can be hard to believe that taking time for quiet and solitude is actually productive, and even increases productivity. Even now I can hear the call of urgent “to do” lists. How stopping feels contrary to accomplishing as much as I can today. Yet, something seems true and right about pausing. Here are two reasons why I believe our quiet places invite us to come visit.

First, I find a sense of refreshment that is so good for the soul. I am able to recalibrate my perspective toward being thankful. It seems like we each have a favorite physical place that quiets our spirit the most . . . the mountains . . . the beach . . . a farm . . . an open field . . . a walk in the woods . . . a special room. This piece of music was created to help you close your eyes and imagine that you are in this place so close to your heart.

Second, I find a sense of renewal. My attitude and words are more life giving when my heart thinks on things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Investing time for quiet offers the opportunity to pray and listen, to read and reflect on Scripture, and to live out Luke 6:45 in a more positive way: “What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

So, when is your next visit to your quiet place? May your heart be refreshed and renewed.

“He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:31-32