Good Morning,
Today I awoke with Psalm 46:10 on my heart and mind. "It reads, Be still and know that I am God." My attention was drawn to the "be still" part. It means to abate, to cease, to leave or let alone. He is saying to let everything else alone, cease from all that occupies and keeps us so busy, and takes all of our time and attention, and give it to knowing Him. Know means to recognize by becoming acquainted with, comprehending, discovering and understanding; to become a familiar friend. This can be accomplished by being still. Yada is the word for "know" in Hebrew. It literally means to transfer your attention, energy and time knowing God, instead of all that is going on around you.
It sounds simple, to be still, but really for most of us it is a challenge. We live in a fast paced world. For most of us from the time we wake up in the morning until we go to bed at night, we are in a rush. Our sleeping pattern is even dictated to by this, "hurried life". This got me to thinking about Jesus. He was not depicted as a "hurried" Lord. He did great exploits by just being still. He was often seen going aside to be still and know God, through prayer and worship. He knew Father God better than anyone, yet, He was always being still by being in God's presence. Sometimes He was going fishing, other times He was walking along with his disciples teaching them about the kingdom; just, being still. The scriptures don't reveal that He was in a hurry to build His ministry. He wasn't a mover and a shaker by today's standards, yet He accomplished more than anyone in history. As I look at Jesus I see that it is okay, sometimes, to do nothing. Even though He was doing the Father's business, he did it in a state of rest. He never had to prove who He was by what He was doing. He did it with ease! There is a lesson to be learned from the example of our Lord.
Do you know that the cell is one of the most basic units of life? It is also one of the smallest units of life in our bodies. After a cell has divided there is a period of rest before anything else happens. If cell division is about growth and transitioning, and it is, then growth and transitioning is also about rest. I believe that before we can grow and go into our next transition, we must learn to rest or be still. I realize that God has been trying to get me to be still, so new growth can take place. I have fought it all the way, thinking that being still meant no growth. Matthew 11:28 does not say, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (until I give you your calling and My plans for your lives, then you must work like crazy until you have accomplished it!). No!!! Let's read on, verse 29 says, "Take My yoke upon you learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls." Now that sounds similar to, "Be still and know that I am God", maybe, just maybe God will reveal more of His self to those who cease from so much busyness. He really wants us to get to know Him in a quiet, peaceful frame of mind and heart. Rest means to take intermission; recreation; to repose; to be refreshed and to take ease. Rest for our souls, our minds, will and emotions, so that we can truly get to know Him. Can you really do that? Just get to know God and learn of Jesus, without making it some busy activity! Yes, even Martha's have to learn of Him by sitting at His feet, doing nothing. Cells do it, they rest in order to continue growing. Your transition or change could be waiting on you to enter into His rest. "For he who has entered God's rest (intermission; recreation; repose; to be refreshed and to take ease) has also ceased { be still } from the weariness and pain of human labors." (Heb. 4:10) Let us make our transition with ease. Relax, be still and you will know!
Love,
Pastor D.
I am so excited to see the Daughters of Z blog back up and running. It goes to show that in the end (if we don't give up) we have the VICTORY!
Posted by: Vanessa | November 12, 2008 at 06:53 AM