Be Still and Know

Psalm 46:10 says  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Lived in the city for 30+ years, then moved to Franklinton, and was awestruck at the sound of nature and the stars in the sky.

In our world of hurriedness, we listen to music without ever really appreciating all the elements that make up what we hear.  We watch movies, and hear special effects and build-ups and climatic moments, but don’t even consider what it took to make the show.  We view artwork, be it paintings, sculptures, or even buildings, and enjoy what is there, but never consider the details.  We only see the qualities in other people that will directly enhance our own lives.

Stillness is something God designed in our lives.  It’s in our blueprints.  Consider this: you walk in from a cold breeze to feel the presence of heat, and you stop.  Your belly growls and as you take the first bit of the meal you’ve longed for, you lose focus on everything else and taste.  Someone walks by with that right fragrance (perfume, food, drink), and you stop and smell.  You lay down on your bed, or in your favorite chair after a long day and you take a moment to feel the comfort.  Something passes your senses that brings you back to a time in history and your mind recalls events and places and people, and you daydream.

This doesn’t mean that you become lazy and do nothing.  The Bible says that if you don’t work, you don’t eat.  God instructed us to do something for 6 days, and to rest on the seventh.  Your spiritual walk and relationship requires that you draw nigh to God first, then He will draw nigh to you.  You must take up your cross daily and follow Jesus.

What this means, though, is that you have moments in life.  You may have times with just a thought that makes you stop and ponder.  Then you will have moments that turn into hours of reflection and study.  Building a sermon to preach, for me, normally takes a week of thought on a matter.  But there are times when I’ve used something God has spoken to me minutes before service time, and sometimes the Spirit directs my thoughts the day of or the night before.  But all of them are moments.  And we must take captive every moment of our lives.

Psalm 46 in it’s entirety says: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah  Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields  with fire.  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Consider the wording of Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.   He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

He purposely causes us to wait on him and do nothing outside of what he instructs.  As we lie down, it’s our responsibility to eat.  As we walk by the water, we must choose to drink.  He prepares a table for us, but we must act after he is done.  We stop and humble ourselves as he anoints us.  What do we do with that overflow?

Exodus 14:13-14 13.  Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

In Nehemiah 8, as Nehemiah instructed the Israelites that the joy of the Lord is their strength, verse 11 says The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him:

Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!  Be still!"  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

God came and spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice, after all the normal ways you would imagine God to answer…..through enormous, earth-changing acts of nature

Jesus told the disciples to go and wait on the promise of the Holy Ghost.

Jesus took 40 days at the start of ministry to sit and fast before God, as he did many other times during his ministry.  Yes, he was busy going and doing and teaching.  But yes again, he did stop and pay attention to his surroundings and took time to wait for an answer from his Father above.  There was a balance in Jesus’ life.  And he moved about in absolute power.  He stood silently when being accused and crucified, because he knew he was in God’s perfect will.

He’s here right now, asking you to stop and sense his presence in our midst.  He wants you to pause from your thoughts, your plans, the requirements of your day, and hear the sound of Spirit passing by you.  If you make it a point to be still, if you make the choice today to know without a doubt that He is God Almighty, He will influence your world in such a way that things will never be the same again!!!