“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Years ago while in college, students were on strike for poor school conditions. As we stood outside the neighborhood talking, the military stormed the place. Everyone ran into the closest door that was open. About ten of us entered a student’s room, both male and female. The space was so small, but no one really cared about the tightness of the room. We could hear the military breaking doors, beating, and arresting students. There was panic in the room. In the mist of this, I remembered my grandfather’s best part of the Bible; Psalm 23. I looked over and there was a Bible. I grabbed it and asked everyone to be quiet and pay attention to me while I read my grandfather’s favorite Psalm. I was only a church attendee at the time. Well who does not want prayers when in danger? Suddenly, there was a calmness, quietness, no movement in the tight room and everyone’s attention was on me, listening as I read in a timid but gentle voice. I read the Psalm over and over. Interestingly, within no time, we were all carried away into the Psalm to the point where we had forgotten of the storm that was outside. The noise outside had stopped, everywhere was quiet but because we were so focused on the prayer, we had forgotten that the noise had stopped and the military had gone. After the prayer, one student opened the door and realized that life had gone back to normal.
When I reflected on the above story, it reminded me of the word of God considered here; “Be still”. Even in the mist of the storm God says be still. That is the only way we can hear Him and get directions on what to do. Sometimes the storms of life just want to take over the mind. However, if the mind has been trained to be still, always, when there is a problem, it will adjust in the midst of the problem.
Let’s take a look at Psalm 46:10 “Be Still, and know that I am God “What does this mean? Not moving or making a sound, deep silence. I will define this as “a state in which the body, mind, soul, and spirit are quiet before God; a state of no physical movement; no mind movement or fishing around or journeying of the mind. A state where the spirit man is carried away into the throne room of the father and is connected to the Spirit of God and the soul is settled waiting on the mercy of God”. If we can practice to get into this state, it will ease our relationship with God. It does not come in a day, we have to practice this all the time. In this modern age, one cannot be still with the phone around or the TV on. It is in this state that we can hear God say “know that I am God”. If we are unable to hear God speak these words, it becomes difficult to trust His word. His gentle voice is heard in the quietness of our spirit.
Jesus is inviting us into his quiet rest. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place” (Mark 6:31-32). Jesus is saying leave the noise, come alone and fellowship with Me. He longs to fellowship at His temple and He wants us to be still when we get in as in Habakkuk 2:20 says, “but the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”
Moses understood the secret of being still. “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent” (Exodus 33:7, 11). Moses knew that there was so much commotion in the camp and for him to spend quality time and be still before God, he needed to pitch a tent and give it a name, so when anyone saw him there they knew exactly what to do; “NO DISTRACTIONS”
Jesus also had the habit of entering into a place where He could be alone and be still to hear His Father. Mark 1:35 says “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
What can one do to be still?
Create time to be alone from any form of distraction.
Start with 15 minutes
Take your Bible, note book, and pen.
Ask the Lord to cleanse you from any sin
Do not do anything apart from closing your eyes and trying to focus on God. Do not worry if your mind is wondering when you begin.
Practice daily. The wondering will gradually stop.
Evaluate yourself after a month.
Prayer:
Father I thank You for inviting me into Your presence. I ask for the grace to follow the rules of meeting with You. Help me Lord to focus on building my relationship with you. I erase every spirit of distraction from my mind, soul and spirit by the power and authority that is in the blood of Jesus. Father I ask for a word that will renew my mind, my spirit, and connect me with your Spirit and presence in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Blessings!
Ennette Heaggans