Be still

"Be still and know that I am God". [Psalm 46:10]

The word 'rest' has become a foreign concept in the world we live in today. We are constantly busy, and believe that if we want to succeed in life, we must keep striving.

We can go through seasons in our relationship with God where we are just not hearing Him clearly, so we respond by thinking:

• "I need to serve more"

• "I need to give to that person"

• "I need to worship more"

We somehow believe that doing all this will make 'everything better'. But alongside our busyness comes fearful and anxious thoughts that we hold onto. You know the ones:

• "I can't believe I messed up"

• "I am such an idiot"

• "I can't do it, it's too hard"

• "I am a failure"

• "I am too old"

• "I am too young"

The list goes on and on!

If we continue in this way, we will see it beginning to affect every area of our lives, including our health and wellbeing, our relationships with others and our relationship with God.

When I was writing this devotional, I was drawn to one of my favourite passages in the Bible - Luke 10:38-42, Jesus in the home of Mary and Martha. Very quickly, we begin to see how these two women have chosen to posture themselves. Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus and Martha is running ragged around the house, distracted by all the preparations.

Maybe, we can identify ourselves with Martha, we open our hearts to Jesus, we let Him in, yet so often we miss the miracle of just being with Him. We miss the miracle of Jesus' transformational power, His life changing words, the goodness of His character, His holiness and His grace, because we don't slow down enough and just be with Him.

I certainly can identify with Martha recently. I have gone through a testing time and can relate to all the emotions, feelings, thoughts and anxieties that I have mentioned above.

Thankfully, a dear friend reminded me of Psalm 46 with emphasis on verse 10:

"Be still and know that I am God".

If we desire to know God, we have to create space for Him. But being still is more about a heart posture than a physical posture (although being still physically is helpful too).

Being still, is about quieting our hearts and minds to hear from God, to see God act in our lives and creating space to allow Him to show us who He is.

God asks us to be still, so that we can receive love, peace and guidance.

How do we do this? How do we become present and still?

The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us we need to take "every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ".

Our thoughts don't have to control us and our minds don't have to be racing about all the things to do in life. Through Jesus, we can take our thoughts captive and be still, realign our eyes on Jesus, and know that He is in control.

The Psalmist in Psalm 46:10 suggests that stillness is not something we must wait for, stillness is a choice. Only we can make the decision to quiet our soul, even in the midst of doubts, unanswered questions and unresolved situations.

We see in Exodus 14:13-14, God's words through Moses to the Israelites:

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today...... The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still".

The Israelites saw the Red Sea ahead of them, and heard the Egyptian soldiers behind them, they saw death all around them, so can you imagine their thoughts!

"Stand still, are you kidding?"

What the Israelites could not see, was the hand of God creating a path beneath the waters and separating the Red Sea. God was working for them.

Just as God did back then, He is ever present now. He is our refuge and strength. We just have to be still and trust Him.

Are you struggling to see how God is working in your life?

It takes time and practice to still our minds. So start by telling God how you feel and ask Him to help you trust that He is working on your behalf.

Read the Bible daily and memorise some key verses, which you can draw and meditate on when times are tough.

Talk over how you are feeling with a trusted friend or a fellow brother or sister in Christ.

Also, consider practising meditation regularly, it's a powerful way to shut up thoughts that don't serve us well. I will enclose a link below to a 'breath prayer' using the verse in Psalm 46:10 which may help.

https://youtu.be/CfNITYx0bXI?si=CpmJmUDxgu6S5IeT

I have to end with Psalm 34:17-18

"When the righteous cry for help,

the LORD hears,

and delivers them

out of all their distress and troubles."

How wonderfully comforting is that!

God bless