Be still and be reminded.
Psalms 46:10-11 NKJV
[10] Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! [11] The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
I find it harder and harder to be still.
There is so much to do. So much to say.
There are things that need to be done!
Even if I take the opportunity to sit and try to allow my body to relax, my thoughts still wander around.
Most times this life is chaotic.
We live in an Era and a society that demands our time.
It is hard to be still.
I know that I must start my day out with the Lord.
I understand that He is my first priority.
Some days are harder than others to be still and do the things I must!
It is a strange thing when we fall to the Precious Feet of Jesus and Repent of our sins. Everything changes.
Suddenly our eyes are open to even the slightest things that mention anything from the Bible!
“ Be still and know that I am God “.
This is one of the most famous verses in the Word of God!
You will see this amazing reminder on coffee mugs, posters, T-shirts, cards, and even bumper stickers!
It seems that no matter where you are it’s a reminder from the Lord. Be still! So much easier to see it on a coffee mug than to live it!
But it makes it no easier to be still.
Being still is more than taking time off.
It is more than a vacation on a balmy beach with no care or responsibility.
It is more than that!
Be still means to stop striving.
Be still means to stop fighting.
It can also mean to stop trying to defend.
One reason we can’t be still is because we strive so hard to make a way.
Make a way and a path for ourselves, our loved ones and those around us.
If we are truly honest with ourselves we have such trouble trying to live a life of stillness.
We toss and turn at night.
There’s distraction. There’s hardships and sorrows. There are things seeded deep within us that just can’t fully come to a ahmt long enough to be still!
We are rarely still but we still want peace.
We strive to have peace in our hearts and minds.
We want peace within our households.
How do we find the stillness of heart and mind we so covet?
Psalms 46:8-11 NKJV
[8] Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. [9] He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. [10] Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! [11] The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
It is rare that we read the whole Scripture in context. We jump to the “life verse” without realizing what the Lord is trying to convey to us. We must take in God’s whole Word to penetrate deep to the fibers of our being!
“Come, behold the works of the Lord”!
Behold at what the Lord has done.
See His mighty hand of Salvation and Redemption!
How many times did Israel go against the toughest and meanest of enemies. Enemies that this Nation still faces today.
Enemies that want nothing but their existence to stop!
Being still isn’t sitting in a quiet desolate place gathering our thoughts or taking a break.
It’s not about leaving our responsibility and trying to find a simpler way of life!.
Being still is recognizing what the Lord has accomplished! Then sitting in awe and amazement at what HE has done!
It is seeing through Scripture how He enters into the very battlefields.
The battlefields of this world.
The battlefields of our minds and hearts.
Jesus Christ steps into these darkest places and brings the light of victory.
The Light of The Word that shines and destroys every dark corner.
A light that guides to Himself.
A light that gives the cold heart the warmth it needs to defrost.
The light that the enemy of our souls rushes to try and snuff out at any given moment he sees the opportunity!
But God gives us all the invitation to see His power and dominion!
“Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth.”
Be still and acknowledge His Greatness!
Be still and see His power and strength!
What are those works?
Many scholars believe that this Psalm was written after a battle that clearly came from the help of the Lord.
God’s protection of the nation.
God’s provision.
God’s mighty hand of deliverance from enemy forces!
What’s amazing about this is that God gives us a personal invitation to see what He has accomplished.
Come and see!
If we could realize ALL that the Lord has done on our behalf!
If we could reflect on His Holy Hand of protection and deliverance over the enemy of Satan and over death!
What exactly was accomplished on the Cross?
Yes, Jesus died for sinners.
Yes, He made a way to get to Heaven.
But He saved us from the complete desolation of our souls!
He saved us from the justice of the Hand of God we so deserve.
He covers us with the precious shed Blood to conceal us from the enemy and to make us presentable to the Throne of the Father!
If there is ever going to be a stillness of heart let that be that moment!
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two.
When hanging on the Cross and with His last breath what does our Lord say?
IT IS FINISHED!
The battle was over.
The battle was won.
He brought everything to an abrupt end.
Jesus completed the task and accomplished what we could never complete, Salvation!
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
The stillness of our minds and hearts is a very hard thing to accomplish.
It is a discipline that not many people are able to master.
Life will bring its trials and tribulations.
Our hearts will feel shattered, displaced and confused.
Our minds will wander, our thoughts will stray.
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
[8] Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
How has God shown His Goodness to you?
Where has His mercy rested in your soul?
Behold the works of the Lord!
Let your heart stop striving to accomplish only what the Lord can.
Be still and be reminded.
When we can behold the works of the Lord we can start to see the deliveries in our life. The safety and protection He gives.
If we can be still just enough we will remember His compassion, love and mercy.
The stillness of heart sometimes only comes in small increments of time.
Realize those times and use them wisely.
Use it to remember;
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Refuge comes with safety.
With safety comes peace.
The peace of Christ is what brings stillness to our hearts to see what He has done!
Pastor Ed
