Be Still

Be still.  This is a command children rarely are interested in obeying (my 9-year-old in particular).  It’s also something adults in our society seem somewhat incapable of doing either.  I have reflected on a verse in Psalms which gives this very command over the last few weeks as I have been forced to “be still” in recovering from foot surgery.  “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10. 

My busyness and desire to spend time doing often impedes my spiritual walk.  I have been very conscious of this fault of mine over the years, but the last 4 weeks of convalescing has made me more cognizant of my need to do precisely the thing I struggle with the most…. to be still.  It is often times in that still, quiet moment that I can truly feel God’s presence and hear His voice.  I have had a daily quiet time, daily family devotional and prayer time for years, but this is not what this verse really spoke to me.  I realized that I spend a great deal of my time consumed with making lists in my head, lists of what I need to do next; who I need to call, what chore I need to complete, what item I should pick up from the store.  I even make prayer lists.  These lists are important for my daily survival with three kids, but when do I take time to just be still in God’s presence?  Is there anyone else out there that struggles with this? 

Recently I was reading a book on prayer and felt so convicted as I read about a missionary who spent 4 hours a day in prayer each morning with the Lord.  My first reaction was to say to myself, “I bet that guy didn't have 3 children”, but then I realized that wasn't the point.  The point was, where were this missionary’s priorities?  God was using this missionary to reach so many people for Christ and I want so much to be used of God like that, but how can I be used effectively for Christ if my prayer time is spent more often giving a quick thank you list and a long list of needs with no time to just worship and reflect on who He is?  Am I spending too much time trying to fight some of these battles myself instead of just giving it to the Lord and trusting that He will take care of the outcome?

  

And so I am working on learning to “Be still” and know that He is God, because ultimately He will be exalted among the nations and in all of the earth as Revelations 5:11-14 reveals; "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"  The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped."

So today I will spend more time in the quiet and less in the frantic.  I will spend more time trusting that He has this, and less time worrying what will happen.  I will sing more praises to Him and less time repeating the same list of prayer requests so that I will be prepared for that day when all nations will exalt Him.  When we will all fall down and worship the Lamb who sits on the throne!