Stop-Look-Listen
Remember the old railroad signs-- STOP-LOOK-LISTEN? Sometimes that is what we as Christians need to do. We live in a world full of stress and anxiety. It shows up in our health, our conversation and our way of life. God didn't design us to be caught up in the wacky world of stress. We are not designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. God never intended us to say yes to every opportunity that came along. He doesn't want us to be so busy that we forget all about Him. With all that is happening in the world today, we absolutely need to find a place of quiet and rest for our souls on a daily basis. Sometimes on an hourly basis!
Psalm 46:10 says to "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" We are to be still-it means to cease, be idle. After all the descriptions of what is taking place in this chapter-- even though the earth be removed, the mountains carried into the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling-- sounds a lot like our local forecasts lately. In the midst of all this is the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her- His temple- the Christian. The Bible tells us that we are the temple of God. Even though all this may be happening all round us- He tells us in verse 10- that we are to be still and know that He is God! Be quiet- stop fussing and whining- God is in charge! We need to STOP- fussing, whining, complaining, being anxious and acting like we don't have a God that knows it all from the beginning to the end.
Once we STOP fussing and kicking- we need to LOOK. Hebrews 12:1,2 tells us that we are to lay aside every weight that traps us and run with endurance the race that is set before us and looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith-- that word look means "away from", "to see". It means undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix our gaze on one object. It means having eyes for no one but Jesus! We are stop our fussing and whining over whatever situation we find ourselves in- or just life itself- and LOOK to Jesus.
Then we need to LISTEN for God's voice. Yes, God really does speak to us today! Most of us are just too busy or have our minds and ears on all the clatter that goes on around us that we don't hear His voice. But Revelation 2:7 says:"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To Him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" and in Revelation 3:30-"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Wow! God is saying here that He wants to be with us! Isn't that great, to think that the God of the universe wants to spend time with us! But we must be in the position to be able to hear Him. I have always loved the story of Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-17) where God spoke to him on the mountain. God sent an earthquake, a fire and a windstorm. But God did not speak to Elijah in those. It says in verses 11, 12- "after the fire a still small voice." It also means a "delicate whispering voice." Sometimes we are not able to hear God because of all the earthquakes, fires and wind storms going on in our lives. He speaks to us in the still small voice and in order to hear that delicate whispering voice we have to be quiet.
STOP-LOOK-LISTEN. We need to learn the art of waiting on the Lord. And it truly is an art. We are not naturally inclined to wait. We, as human beings, always want to be doing something, seeing something, going somewhere or being entertained. And as never before this is an age of being entertained. People can spend hours in front of the TV, I Phones, computers, at the sports arena- just being entertained! We like the visual concept. We want to see something that makes us feel good. But as Christians we need to spend time alone with the Lord so we will be able to STOP all the commotion in our lives, even for just a little while-- LOOK- to Jesus- giving Him our undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix our gaze upon Him and then we will be able LISTEN to that still small voice of the Lord speaking peace and comfort, guidance and counsel- speaking words of life to us.
Especially in this holiday season- take the time to STOP-LOOK and LISTEN. Begin to train your spirit to be calm and quiet in His presence, leave the hustle and bustle of the world- even if just for a little while each day- and I can guarantee that you will hear that still small voice of the Lord.
STOP-LOOK-LISTEN!
Psalm 46:10 says to "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" We are to be still-it means to cease, be idle. After all the descriptions of what is taking place in this chapter-- even though the earth be removed, the mountains carried into the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling-- sounds a lot like our local forecasts lately. In the midst of all this is the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her- His temple- the Christian. The Bible tells us that we are the temple of God. Even though all this may be happening all round us- He tells us in verse 10- that we are to be still and know that He is God! Be quiet- stop fussing and whining- God is in charge! We need to STOP- fussing, whining, complaining, being anxious and acting like we don't have a God that knows it all from the beginning to the end.
Once we STOP fussing and kicking- we need to LOOK. Hebrews 12:1,2 tells us that we are to lay aside every weight that traps us and run with endurance the race that is set before us and looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith-- that word look means "away from", "to see". It means undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix our gaze on one object. It means having eyes for no one but Jesus! We are stop our fussing and whining over whatever situation we find ourselves in- or just life itself- and LOOK to Jesus.
Then we need to LISTEN for God's voice. Yes, God really does speak to us today! Most of us are just too busy or have our minds and ears on all the clatter that goes on around us that we don't hear His voice. But Revelation 2:7 says:"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To Him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" and in Revelation 3:30-"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Wow! God is saying here that He wants to be with us! Isn't that great, to think that the God of the universe wants to spend time with us! But we must be in the position to be able to hear Him. I have always loved the story of Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-17) where God spoke to him on the mountain. God sent an earthquake, a fire and a windstorm. But God did not speak to Elijah in those. It says in verses 11, 12- "after the fire a still small voice." It also means a "delicate whispering voice." Sometimes we are not able to hear God because of all the earthquakes, fires and wind storms going on in our lives. He speaks to us in the still small voice and in order to hear that delicate whispering voice we have to be quiet.
STOP-LOOK-LISTEN. We need to learn the art of waiting on the Lord. And it truly is an art. We are not naturally inclined to wait. We, as human beings, always want to be doing something, seeing something, going somewhere or being entertained. And as never before this is an age of being entertained. People can spend hours in front of the TV, I Phones, computers, at the sports arena- just being entertained! We like the visual concept. We want to see something that makes us feel good. But as Christians we need to spend time alone with the Lord so we will be able to STOP all the commotion in our lives, even for just a little while-- LOOK- to Jesus- giving Him our undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix our gaze upon Him and then we will be able LISTEN to that still small voice of the Lord speaking peace and comfort, guidance and counsel- speaking words of life to us.
Especially in this holiday season- take the time to STOP-LOOK and LISTEN. Begin to train your spirit to be calm and quiet in His presence, leave the hustle and bustle of the world- even if just for a little while each day- and I can guarantee that you will hear that still small voice of the Lord.
STOP-LOOK-LISTEN!
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