I hope that you are enjoying these devotional thoughts that our staff is making available during this time. Today’s devotional thought that I’ve put together is Part 1 of ‘Be Still.’
Next Friday, I will share part 2.
It is no secret that there is a lot of fear in America right now. The days have been wild and they continue to get wilder by the hour. What is going on is not just happening in America, it’s happening in the whole world.
Everyone’s life has been disrupted and inconvenienced. We as a nation and society are used to always being on the go. We live in a society that has a never-ending to-do list. We’re busy. We’re pressed for time. We often times get caught up in living life in the fast lane and a rushed lifestyle. We suffer from what I call ‘hurry-itis.’ We want things, and we want them fast.
And now the coronavirus has literally shut down the world. I don’t want to pretend that I know everything that is going on, but I do know this. . . the world has been made to slow down and we all seem to have a lot of extra time on our hands.
And I think that during this time, a good passage of scripture we need to read is Psalm 46:10 that says. . .
Be still and know that I am God.
God says it so clearly in this verse. It seems simple enough. Yet how often is ‘Being Still’ the hardest thing for us to do.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had a hard time being still. Growing up, I got told many times to ‘sit still’! I heard it from school teachers, my mom, my dad, babysitters and now I hear it from my wife.
The idea of ‘Being Still’ goes against what we naturally, and culturally do. Our inclination is to step on the gas and go full speed ahead. Instead, God is telling us in this verse to hit the brakes.
With all of the extra time we now have, I can’t think of a better and easier time to follow this command ‘Be Still,’ than right now, when the world has already slowed us down. But notice, God does not just say, ‘Be Still,’ He goes on to say, ‘and know that I am God.’ So instead of going crazy with all the extra time you have, I want to encourage you to -
‘Be Still’ and. . . Be in ‘awe’ of God
‘Be Still’ and. . . And know that he is God and that He is still in control
‘Be Still’ and. . . And know that God is really big, bigger than this coronavirus
‘Be Still’ and. . . Use this time to reevaluate what is important
‘Be Still’ and. . . Use this opportunity to get closer to God
‘Be Still’ and. . . Read God’s Word
‘Be Still’ and. . . Pray
‘Be Still’ and. . . Listen to Him
‘Be Still’ and. . . Use this opportunity to love those who matter most to you
‘Be Still’ and. . . Use this time to look for ways to encourage others
It is critical to our faith to realize that the more deliberate we are about ‘Being Still’
-The more we hear God’s voice
-The smaller our issues seem
-The bigger God appears
-The more we follow God’s will for us, instead of our own agendas and ideas
After reading verse 10, where it says ‘Be still and know that I am God’, look what Psalm 46 closes with in verse 11. . .
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
No matter how chaotic the world has become around us, we are told that ‘God is with us’, that he is ‘our fortress’ and we can find peace, strength and protection with the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Again, I cannot think of a better and easier time than now to. . . ‘Be still.’
Beyond Blessed,
Bobby