
IN THE STILLNESS
Don’t know about you but the last couple of weeks have been super busy for me. So thankful for my calendar that keeps me where and what I need to do. Not too much time to be still. Let’s start our blog, with some verses from the Bible that talk what happens when we take the time to, and ARE in the stillness.
Psalm 46:10 God tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Isaiah 30:15 reads, “…In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength…”
1 Kings 19:11-12 reads, “Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
The first two quotes tell us that if we are still: God’s name will be exalted above anything on this earth-with rest we will be saved from the busyness of this earth-we will have peace and confidence that will bring us strength to deal with the things of this physical life-and then in 1 Kings, if we are still and quiet with just God; instead of the stress, anger, noisy technology in our faces world, we can be close to God just through rest and stillness.
I love the passage here in 1 Kings. (Read in your Bibles the story of the great Elijah-there is so much to learn from him.) The scripture is about Elijah when he was threatened with death by Jezebel. So, he ran and sat under a tree feeling depressed and all alone. He prayed to God to take his life. Then, after an angel gave him nourishment, he traveled and went into a cave. God basically asked him what in the world was he doing! Then, the verses above. God let him know that he (and we) cannot find Him in all the huge, noisy things of this earth; but rather when we stop, be still and focus on God, we can truly find Him.
I know my hand reaches for my phone all the time to check Facebook and my emails. I can get stuck in all that for 30 minutes easily! Nothing against either one of those, but what I have to remind myself, is, I need to put technology down and pick up my dusty Bible and read about the great people, like Elijah. They can give us: courage-strength-focus on what is really important-the realization that we are not alone in the feelings we have-to stop in the stillness and feel God’s love, peace, forgiveness and rest in Him; to give us comfort!
On Facebook, I get the posts from “She Loves Boldly.” They are such meaningful messages. Here is a quote from the last one, I read. It says exactly what I am trying to say today. It also had more but do not have the room here to add to this blog. Here it is.
“Be still does not mean do nothing. It means cease the striving that keeps the heart restless. It means releasing the need to fill every moment with productivity or explanation and choose instead, to know that He is God. When we are still, we make room for the truth of who He is to settle deeper than our circumstances. Quietness is not passive. It is an active trust. It is the decision to stop measuring our days by what we accomplish and to measure them instead, by how attentively we remain before the Lord. Rest is not optional in this place. The body and soul both need space to breathe. When we honor the need for rest, we are not neglecting our calling. We are positioning ourselves to receive strength that cannot be manufactured by effort. Quietness and trust become the very means by which strength is restored. In the silence, the Lord is not distant. He is near. He speaks not always in the wind or the fire, but in the stillness that follows, when we finally stop long enough to listen (each) season is not wasted…the Lord is teaching the heart to recognize His voice above every other demand…refining focus.”
God is always there for us. We need to remember to stop and put ourselves in the stillness, away from this world, and meditate on the scriptures. We need to sit outside or walk in nature and remember Who God was, is and will always be. We need to learn to rest in His arms to give us strength to go on and rejuvenation to be able to take a big breath and put our focus on and in our God and Savior!
What are you doing in the busyness of this world? Are you taking time to include stillness into your day? When you do, the peace only God can give, not the world, will fill your mind and heart.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds; through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Till next time!
Keela




