Be Still and Know

 

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

This has been one of my favorite verses for many years. I have a plaque with this verse on my office wall. In our last Women of Faith and Grace event- it was our theme. My sister-in-law Lynne always chooses a specific theme for our events. When it is my turn to speak, I don't always go with the theme when  the Lord gives me something else. This time, though, the Lord put it on my heart to go with it. Then I began to see on line the same verse, over and over again. I thought- Lord- You are trying to get our attention!  When you start see a specific verse or theme over and over again, take heed. The Lord is trying to get our attention. With everything that is happening in our nation and in the world- the Lord is directing us to learn to be still and know that He is God. We are to be still, be quiet in His presence and know and acknowledge that He is Lord!

The word "still" in the original means to cease, abandon, refrain, to let go, to be quiet. It always implies being consumed as by fire. We need to allow the fire of God to consume us, consume all our anxieties and worries and frets- so that we can fully rest in Him. We are living in the last days and there is a lot going on around us and in individual lives that would distract us from the Living God. We must daily, if not minute by minute, acknowledge that the Lord, He is God! He is and will be exalted in the earth and needs to be exalted in our individual lives- through our speech, our attitudes, our ethics and our behavior. He is to be exalted. 

The word "know" means to recognize, be acquainted with, to know a person intimately. In scripture, this word is used to denote the relationship of a man and a woman in marriage- that intimate relationship. With God- it means to have that intimate, personal relationship with Him. It's all about relationship! Everything in our lives flow out of our relationship with God- our ministries, our callings, our gifts and talents, our pathway in this life. It is the hub- and everything else flows out of it like the spokes on a wagon wheel- with Christ being the hub.

I like how the Message Bible translates this verse: "Step out of the traffic! Take a long loving look at Me, your High God, above politics, everything."  We need to look to God above everything else. We need to get out of the traffic- the noise, the clamor, the chaos of the world- and intentionally draw away and set our hearts and minds on Him- the One True God. We do this by quieting ourselves and listening to His voice. 

Elijah had a great day on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40) when the prophets of Baal were defeated when the Lord showed up and proved that "The Lord, He is God!"  But then he found out that Jezebel was furious and wanted to kill him, so even after his great victory he ran away and hid in a cave. First there was a strong and mighty wind, then an earthquake and then a fire. After each event, Elijah realized that God was not in any of them. Then Elijah heard a "still small voice". It was then that Elijah came out of the cave and heard what God had to say. We look for God to speak and work in a very demonstrative way. But many times, it is in the "still small voice", that gentle whisper. And in order to hear God's gentle whisper, we must be quiet and sensitive.

We need to cease striving, striving with ourselves, others  and with God. Stop expecting God to work in some particular way that is pleasing to us. God will do how He wants to do, but we must be in tune to His voice. As we set aside time each day, to draw away- to calm and quiet our spirits before Him- He will show us the way. This is a day of overabundance of information. We are bombarded on every side with information! Most of which is useless and nonsense. I have to, from time to time, draw away from social media and from the news. It becomes overwhelming and causes us much anxiety. We may be in a storm, but we can't let that storm get inside of us. We need to deliberately draw aside and allow Him to speak to our hearts. 

Psalm 23 tells us that he restores and refreshes our souls when we rest in His dwelling place. That is for now, today! He causes us to rest, be refreshed, repairs, heals and brings us back to the original purpose which we were created. If it is only for a few minutes each day- set aside an intentional time to draw away from the cares, all the noise of the world, all the information coming our way- take your Bible and pray and seek Him and allow Him to calm and quiet your soul. The more you do this, the more you will want to do this. Many lead very busy lives, I know- but as you give time to the Lord, He increases your strength, shows you ways you can honor Him so that you will be able to leave that "Holy of Holies" and come out and be a strong witness to those the Lord leads your way- whether family, friends, co-workers, etc. We can not be a witness to someone in chaos, if we carry chaos with us. He is our Prince of Peace and when we spend time with the Prince of Peace, we will have that Peace with us at all times.

Be still- stop striving, cease your labor- and allow God to refresh, restore, repair your spirit. 

Be still and know-maintain and enrich that relationship with Christ so the gifts, talents and ministries will flow easily and effectively out of you.

Be still and know.

~Donna