Greetings to you in the name that is like the fragrance after the rain, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a beautiful morning – bright sunshine, blue skies, and gentle breezes, thank You God for creating this day for us! I trust that you had a good weekend and Monday enjoying all – people, circumstances, things, thoughts – that God sent your way. Have you noticed, I know you have, how God’s presence finds its way into all areas of our life and leaves His fingerprints? Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to release shalom-peace into your lives and living hope.
This morning as we read a familiar Bible verse with a brief comment, God whispered his direction – “Pay attention to this!” The verse is a favourite around our church family: “Be still and know that I am God” or “Stop talking and pay attention” or “Quit your struggling and surrender” or “Step out of the traffic! Take a long loving look at me, your High God…” – Psalm 46:10 various translations/paraphrases. The brief comment that sat alongside the verse went something like this…why d we tend to gravitate to that verse with a simple direction that suits our ‘I don’t have to do anything but sit still’ attitude while neglecting verses like – ‘sing and dance before God or bow down before Him or give Him praise or serve Him or worship Him’.
Yes, I know that there are times when we need to be still, but there is – I believe a point to ‘being still’ and it is revealed in another verse and in a chorus to a song. First, hear God’s Word: Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul! Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God–soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God – Psalm 42:5 The Message. The chorus to the song says: Your tears will dry – Your heart will mend – Your scars will heal – And you will dance again … Matt Hooper, ‘Dance Again’. I have a sense that all too often we would like to remain in a place of being still but there are no building lots for sale there only short term parking spaces.
“Being still” is necessary for God to do His repair work on us…creating in us a clean heart and renewing a stronger spirit within us, as He restore His joy inside of us and releases a flexibility in our spirit…Psalm 51:10 – 12. I believe that the “being still” of Psalm 46 is preparation for another favourite portion of Scripture: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know (after being still in his presence) that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his: we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100.
How long do you think a person can be still while he keeps saying “I know who God is” without returning to action?
Something to ponder – be blessed!