He says, “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
Imagine sitting with a friend. No distractions, just the two of you. You share with the friend how you are struggling with a trial and then ask the friend what you should do. The friend looks at you with love on his face and says: Peace, be still.
What?!? What on earth do you mean “Peace, be still”?!?!? How could I possibly “be still” when I should be DOING something about it all?
For the past three weeks, at various times, I have sat with my prayer journal open…an exercise that is dear to me. I pour out my heart to God on the page, writing my prayers (it helps me to stay focused). Sometimes, I am impressed with something to write down–something that seems to be from the heart of God for me. The theme over the past three weeks has been “Be still and know that I AM God.”
Again. Again. Again.
And…
…again.
Do you notice the presence of “I AM” in the middle of that verse? You may recall that God used the “I AM” to identify himself to Moses when Moses asked God His name. He responded with “Tell the Egyptians that I AM sent you to them.” There is something supremely sufficient in this designation for God and while Psalm 46:10 may not intentionally be the use of the “I AM” name, it nevertheless causes me to think of this.
It has occurred to me that no matter what the question, no matter what the ache, the emptiness that I feel, God’s name, “I Am” is the answer. God is the answer.
“Lord, what will be enough for me?”
I AM.
“Lord, who will be my Comforter for my heartache? Who grieves with me when I grieve?”
I AM.
“What will finally be the solution to my struggle with eating and my weight?”
I AM.
No matter what the challenge, struggle or question, our God says we can know him, I AM, as the sufficiency we need, the strength in our weakness.
But I only experience him as the answer when I still my mind and heart and body. I must Be Still and Know. He tells me to Be Still and Know I AM God… and there is something that will happen as I do that. Are you like me at all? My mind tends to spin and spiral and go wonky if left unchecked. That is when I may grab for food to “center” me. Isn’t that strange? Then, my mind spirals and spins even more…
STOP.
I must be still and know that he is God.
When I stop the spiraling thoughts, when I choose to STILL myself…and this means sitting out on the deck, in the bath, in a chair with a towel over my head–whatever it takes so that NOTHING has my attention but my GOD… I experience a fresh wind. I experience fresh forgiveness. Strength. Peace. Calm. I experience HIM. I am still and I know He is God. He is my portion. I magnify HIM instead of whatever it is that I am struggling with.
We aren’t wired to be still. We are wired to DO DO DO. But we want to obey what he commands and he commands us to be still and know that I am God.
When we still ourselves, we may be surprised. There is much more victory in what another translation of this verse says this way: “Cease striving.” Doesn’t that sound like a great idea? Let’s just cease striving.
When we stop our spinning, spiraling, running, and striving and just rest and know, ponder, dwell on HIS character, His awesomeness, I believe we get the clarity we need.
Stillness is a path to victory.
What can you do to foster stillness today…if not literal physical stillness, perhaps a quiet, still heart that ponders the awesomeness of God–even for a moment? Share with us here what happens for you. If you do this when you are tempted to eat, tell us the outcome!
In addition to my regular bible study and prayer journaling, I set asid 15 min. a day to be still with God. I let the phone ring without answering it and let nothing take me out of that time with God. I start out with deep breathing and the breath prayer, (inhale) Lord Jesus Christ, (exhale) may your love flow through me to others. Once I am stilled, I read a section, or chapter of scripture then wait for God to reveal to me what his will is. I always visualize sitting on the beach with Jesus, on beach towels. I love the ocean and that is just what works for me. Sometimes, Jesus will tell me to be still and just be with him and sometimes he will speak something to my heart. Recently they have centered around waiting for the Lord, or just the word wait. He has also told me to love others as he loves me. I love this time with God and my faith has grown through it.
Sue thanks or sharing that. I love the beach image. I often picture sitting on boulders by a lake. I will try the breath prayer tomorrow in my quiet time. Along the lines of wait and be still, I have been hearing to pause and look for Him. This morning on my walk I heard that He is right here with me. That should certainly give me a reason to be still, wait, pause and look! The Creator and loving Father is with me?! Be still and be with Him!
All I have time to say right now is Amen.
I listened to this song this morning and thought of sharing it on the blog. Now, I definitely will as it speaks of God as I Am! (Point of Grace – Because you are)
Infinite, Deity, humbly enframed
In a mortal and breakable body You came
To rescue our souls from the depths they were in
Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin
Master and servant together in one
Come to redeem what our hearts had undone
Savior of all come to gather His kin
Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin
Holy, unbreakable, infinite God
Ever unchanging in all that You are
Light of the world and the sun and the stars
You are I am and I am because You are
Shepherd and pastor to wandering sheep
Gave up His life so our own we could keep
Soldier in battle for souls He might win
Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin
Holy, unbreakable, infinite God
Ever unchanging in all that You are
Light of the world and the sun and the stars
You are I am and I am because You are
Humbly forsaking His Heavenly seat
Beaten and bloodied and washing my feet
Opened our eyes to what love really means
The blood on my hands is what washes me clean
Holy, unbreakable, infinite God
Ever unchanging in all that You are
Light of the world and the sun and the stars
You are I am and I am because You are
I Love to meditate on God’s word as I pray and listen to what he is speaking to my heart. This is one of my favorite Psalms. 🙂
Psalm 46
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Psalm 46
To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah, set to treble voices. A song.
1 God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas,
3 Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early [at the dawn of the morning].
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our Fortress and High Tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations and wonders in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots in the fire.
10 Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
http://youtu.be/AK0pT-pglLA
This song Is powerful and lifts my heart up to worship my God Almighty! Praise His Holy and Awesome name! Amen.
Heidi….thank you for posting. “Be still,” has been a recurring theme in my relationship with the Lord the last couple of days. It can be so difficult.
I have quiet time with the Lord almost every morning and before I go to bed. When I am not able to have the 20 – 30 minutes, I quickly read my daily devotion and send up a quick prayer. This happens rarely because having the quiet time with God is so very special and I notice a big difference when I don’t take the time. It is usually my inner self which needs to be still. I commit my day to Jesus and surrender my worries and cares about which I can do nothing. Sometimes, I have to be still many times during the day in order to again surrender a particular concern, loved one, or my senior kitty’s health. About every second day, I now read a psalm, add to my God list and have a praise-fest. That is an amazing time with the Lord, filled with such an awareness of His presence and His majesty. It is only when I’m quiet within that I am able to hear Him.
Wow! This is definitely something the Lord has been talking to me about right now–being still. Last night He was showing me that eating within hunger/fullness is about waiting. Waiting. I’m not always good about waiting. I’m not the most patient person. But God is calling us to wait on Him, to wait on hunger, to wait, wait, wait. Being still for me right now means to be still in my mind. I’ve been through a huge mental battle over food over the last 10 months and God has been giving me peace. He’s settling my mind as I come to Him and be still in His presence. Like Heidi, I write out my prayers in a journal and I’ve been writing a lot lately. I know I’m doing well when I’m journaling. I’m so glad God is bringing me through the mental turmoil I’ve put myself through the last several months (because it’s all about choices). He’s been so patient with me. So yes, being still is so important in this journey. It’s pushing aside all of those thoughts, all of those worldly opinions and looking upon His face and listening to what He has to say about it all in His word. Praise God! And we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free! Amen!
Well, I should have been still to be victorious at lunch time. 0 -5 at breakfast, after having my quiet time. 0 at lunch, but the 5 became about a 7 – 8, an hour later that became a 10 and I started eating supper with my husband at about a 5 and I’m probably back to a 10 again. Very tired today; afternoon migraine. I know these are red flags for me and I should have run to the Father. Club of condemnation for a few minutes; then said “No!” I’ve confessed; I’m forgiven; and, I have a brand new start. My numbers, other than 0 and 10 are all approximate because I’ve yet to learn to recognize right where I’m at. Just starting the journey.