Be Still and …

September 9, 2019

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

You jump out of bed in the morning, take a two-minute shower, grab a cup of coffee, and rush off to work carrying your mug. After a full day you rush home and eat dinner quickly so you can get to an evening appointment.Then you're off to bed so that you'll be able to get up in the morning and do it all over again. Does that sound like your life? You know that something must change.

A famous prayer, attributed to several different authors, says, "Slow me down, Lord! Slow me down. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reaches of time. Slow me down, Lord! Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams. Help me know the magic restoring power of sleep and faith in You. Slow me down, Lord!Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed. Slow me down, Lord! Amen.”

That’s essentially what God communicates to us in Psalm 46:10. Amid the hectic pace of our days He calls to us to be still, to rest, to quiet down. It’s the only way we can hear Him and truly know Him. We can’t develop our relationship in the rush. And the relationship is what is most crucial. Whatever issue we face, God doesn’t tell us to buck up and be strong; He tells us to be still. In the stillness the answer comes, and the answer is knowing that He is God. God is not suggesting yoga or meditation or just a rest break. He doesn’t even say, “Be still and have a great devotional time.” He says, “Be still and know ME. Build a relationship with ME. Know that I am your ever-faithful God.”

The original Hebrew word used for being still is Raphah. It means “to stop striving, to cause yourself to let go, to willingly submit yourself to God and His control, surrender to God, become weak, relax, be silent, inactive or still.” When I am still and let go, I let God be God.

I will find peace, security, confidence, and rest. It’s the place where life that is truly life begins.
I will be still. I will know that He is God.

• Spend 5 minutes perfectly still before the Lord today. Listen and see what you hear.
• Pray: Lord, I want to step out of my frantic pace. Help me be still and not push, help me not to mentally and physically pace while I am waiting. Help me sit and wait on You, listening for what Your love speaks to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.