Be still and know
Fri, 12/15/2023 - 6:05pm
Go outside and take a deep breath.
Get up, go do it.
No, I am serious, get up, go outside, shut out everything else, and take a deep breath.
What changed for you? Are you calmer? Are you stressed? Was it a needed break? Or was it frustrating? Take a moment to recognize how you feel and why you feel that way, be aware of your emotions, and take control of them.
Now, think about these verses from Psalms 46:
8 Come and see the works of the Lord,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with 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 Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Do these verses bring you hope? Fear? Concern? Joy?
So often we will dwell on verse 10, but forget that verses 8-9 exist and then we gloss over verse 11. Our God is a God of justice, He causes desolation, and at the same time He causes wars to cease. He is powerful, He is righteous, He is compassionate, and He is concerned.
We need to find time to be still, and then rest in the knowledge that God is God. When anxiety and fear threaten to overtake us, we are to be still. That stillness is a form of peace that God grants us in knowing that He is God. When we recognize His power, compassion, righteousness, and concern then our hearts turn toward Him and anticipate His action.
He acts in such a way as to cause all concerns that we have on earth to cease. He is the one we turn to in all our frustrations and He is the one who helps us calm our hearts. When we recognize Him as our Sovereign God, all concerns we have get laid on Him and His actions.
Now do it again, go outside one more time, take a deep breath and acknowledge God’s power. Recognize Him as your God who cares for you. Breathe deep in the Sovereignty of God over every concern of this life. Be still, and know He is God.