December 10, 2020 BE STILL
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Isaiah 49:31 “But they who wait the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”
Most of us do not like waiting. We are a culture that wants it now. The idea of being still may sound like a good idea, but also seems more like a dream or something we will decide do someday-when we have time. Our schedules are full, our responsibilities are many, there are demands on our time, our energy, and our attention. I grew up in the country amongst farmers; I clearly remember folks sitting on the porch after the chores were done, and having conversation, maybe whittling on a stick with a pocket knife, and the kids playing in the yard. At the time, that seemed like no big deal, but as I look back on those days, I see how wholesome and how right those times were. But, we do not live back them-we live now, and the challenge for us is to in some way recapture the times of being still. We need to learn how to be still-just sitting down with nothing in our hands-simple listening for God to speak and meditating on life. However, being still or waiting on God does not mean that we are to be idle. Primarily, waiting on God is about trusting Him and seeking His direction instead of forging ahead with our own ideas and plans and then asking God to bless it. When our actions follow the heart of God and His ways, we find His strength and renewed energy for what we do. When we follow our own desires apart from God, we become weary. To be still is about taking time to contemplate and meditate on the things of God, to listen for His voice, to have an uncluttered mind; it’s about refocusing on what is truly important in life; it’s about reminding ourselves that He rules the universe, that He is sovereign and that nothing can hinder His plans-it’s about KNOWING that HE IS GOD. Knowing that He is God is half the battle. Habits are hard to break and it takes commitment and resolve not to be squeezed into the worlds mold, but whatever it takes, let us direct our hearts and our spirit to wait on God and let us make ‘being still’ a priority.
Psalm 62:5-6 “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Blessings, Buddy