Be Stll and Know

 

The hardest practice for modern humans to develop is to sit still! In the old days, once the chores were done, families sat around the porch and talked, sang, played board games and told stories.

We have no time for that anymore. We are overly scheduled with activities that will not matter in eternity. God tells us to be still and to know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Yet, we rarely take the time to obey.

If we will abide in God's presence, He floods our spirit and soul with His attributes and the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He is under no obligation to give us what we want, but He loves to bless His Saints (Psalm 35:27).

We all have faith in something or someone, even if it is not in God. Our Christian faith inspires our obedience to God's Word and Spirit. The Old Testament, written by the prophets through God's inspiration, teaches us what faith is really all about (Romans 16:26).

If we think, speak or act without faith, we sin (Romans 14:23). Yet, when we live in faith, we are blessed and our conscience does not condemn us (Romans 14:22).

Faith does not depend on emotions or facts. Our faith is renewed and strengthened by hearing the preaching of God's Word (Romans 10:17). This causes us to hunger and thirst for more of God (Psalm 42:1-2, 107:9).

As we still our body and soul, we find our fulfillment in Him alone (Colossians 1:27, 2:10). We have the fullness of Christ in us, just as He had the fullness of our Father in Him (Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to live in total surrender to Your Spirit within us, living by faith in Your faithfulness and in obedience to Your Word. You heal our body and soul as we dwell in Your presence. You renew our mind and we lose interest in the things of the flesh, the world and the devil. We find our true contentment and rest only in You.

Thank You for giving us the confidence to come to Your throne of grace anytime for any reason (Ephesians 3:12). Thank You for dwelling in our heart and rooting us and grounding us in Your love (Ephesians 3:17). Teach us to sit still in Your presence and to realize that You are God and no one is above You (Isaiah 45:5).

Thought for the Day:

We calm and quiet our soul like a child within us; in God alone will our soul hope as we wait in silence before Him.

- Psalm 62:5, 131:2

Quiet Moments

The hardest practice for modern humans to develop is to sit still! In times past, once the chores were done, families sat around on the porch and talked, sang and told stories.

We have no time for that anymore. We are overly scheduled with activities that will not matter in eternity. God tells us to be still and to know that He is God (Psalm 46:10); however, we rarely take the time to abide in His presence.

If we sit quietly in God's company, He floods our spirit and soul with His attributes and the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He warms our entire being with His presence and He guides us through each moment of our day.

The curse, which Adam and Eve brought upon the earth affects creation, as well as humanity. We all long for the return of Christ as Lord and King, with the government on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).

Even nature responds to God's love. The stones will cry out if God's people refuse to praise Him (Luke 19:28-40). All of creation actually groans for the revelation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19-22).

Our new birth in Christ fills the aching void in our life and makes us complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). Our hungry soul changes from desiring more of the world to craving more intimacy with Him.

This only occurs when we increase the quiet moments in our day. We wait on God between each activity, to seek His will for our next endeavor.

We ask Him to guide everything, which we think, say and do. We walk in His Spirit and find our joy in the center of His will (Galatians 5:15-25). He alone is worthy of all our glory, honor and praise (Revelation 5:8-14).

Prayer:

Father God, help us not to conform our thoughts and behavior to the values of this world, but to allow Your Spirit to transform us by renewing our mind until we walk in Your good, perfect and acceptable will (Romans 12:2).

Remind us not to plan our own life, but to realize each day that Your Spirit resides within us and will control our life as we completely surrender to You. He will heal our soul - our mind, will and emotions; direct our steps and help us to live in Your eternal peace, joy and righteousness (Romans 14:17).

Thought for the Day:

God is worthy of our quiet attention all throughout the day, and He deserves the glory and honor for all that we accomplish in our life, because He gives His power to all of His creation. - Revelation 4:11