Sit Still Newest

Are Your Ears On?

Bible Passage: Psalm 46

Psalm 46 is a reminder that God is our refuge and strength, always present and ready to help in times of trouble. It’s a psalm that many of us can relate to, because it speaks to our deepest fears and our greatest doubts. But too many people use it the wrong way. Too many believers can quote verse 10, but have a very hard time living by it’s words. So today, I want us to focus especially on verse 10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Verse 10 gives us a command. Followed by a remembrance. In the midst of trials, tribulations, and chaos, verse 10 serves as a reminder that, despite the noise around us and within us, God invites us into a place of stillness where we can recognize His presence and strength.

Psalm 46 in it’s entirety is a powerful promise that we are not alone. Although it may seem like we are walking on this journey all alone, God is still right there. It reminds us that the creator is in control of all things in which He has created. So sit still, and let God be God. We have to stop trying to play God by doing things on our own. Trying things our way, other’s way, and things that’s a little bit out of the way. We have to remember to start putting our faith and trust in God first, and stop using it as a last resort. Sitting still is an act of obedience.

But “being still” and waiting on God isn’t a literal command. That doesn’t mean go home and sit in your favorite chair and just sit there for days upon days. That’s not being still. That’s called being lazy. The manner in which the psalm is describing the command “be still” is for us to release or to let go. Being still requires surrendering to God, even in the midst of chaos. In other words, as stated in 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

But many believers succeed in reciting verse 10, but fail to live by it because it’s challenging. Being still requires faith. And not just any ol faith. It requires a type of faith that you comes from past experiences. It requires a type of faith that comes from nearly losing it all, and God stepping in at the perfect time. It requires a type of faith that when money was low but bill were high, God somehow showed up and showed out. It requires a type of faith that even when when people plotted behind your back, God stepped in and had your back. It requires a type of faith that requires some patience. And for many believers, waiting on God is often the hardest part.

Too many believers can’t get to the second part of verse 10, because they struggle with being still. But being still allows us the opportunity to understand the second part. “And know that I am God.”

The purpose of being still is not just to have faith in God, but to remember who God is. Being still teaches us patience, which strengthens our faith, which reminds us who God is. We have to remember that His righteous right hand is in every situation that we go through.

So to help some believers who struggle with being still and trusting God, I want to break down the word “still” in 3 different ways.

1. Still. As in a still state of mind. Which means calm and quiet: Free from noise or disturbance.

a. Too many times we find ourselves doing the complete opposite when we are faced with trouble in our lives. Simply because the biggest challenges our faith has are fears and self doubt.

b. If you look at Luke Chapter 10 when Jesus comes into town and is welcomed into the house of Martha and Mary, there are two completely different reactions that take place.

i. Martha is running herself crazy trying to serve. The Hebrew word used to describe Martha’s behavior is “periespato” (pear-ri-spa-oh) which conveys the idea of being pulled or dragged in different directions.

ii. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. And she listens.

2. If you look over into 1 Kings 19:12 after Elijah flees from Jezebel and has gone on a 40 day journey in the wilderness, he is asleep in a cave on Mount Horeb when God speaks to Him.

a. The Bible tells me that there came a strong wind that broke rocks off the mountain, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in either one. After all this came a still, small voice.

b. Which brings me to my second definition of the word still. Which means like a whisper.

i. God’s voice is soft and may be hard to hear if you focus your attention and ears on what is happening around you.

3. Which brings me to my final breakdown of the word still. But this time I want to spell it a little different. This time I’m spelling it S-T-E-A-L. As in to steal away. Which means to leave a place quietly; secretly; without drawing much attention.

a. If you look over to Matthew 6:6 when Jesus is speaking, He tells the crowd “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

i. The verse says when thou hast shut thy door. Let’s rephrase that. When thou hast shut out all disturbances. When thou has shut out all noises, THEN you pray to thy Father.

ii. In order to truly be still, and to listen the small still voice, you have to steal away to your prayer closet.

He’s the same God, that woke you up this morning.

He’s the same God, that started you out on your way.

He’s the same God, that allows the breath of life to flow through your lungs.

He’s the same God, that brought you here today.

He’s the same God, that loved you when nobody else loved you.