Psalm 46:10
"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:14
"Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."
Psalm 37:7
"Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."
Zechariah 2:13
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Do you see a theme? Do you catch the pattern? This is only a small fraction of the verses where God charges, challenges, or commands us to be still before Him. You would find a whole other set of verses if you were to look up "quiet" or "rest".
This is a topic that God has been trying to open my eyes too, but it wasn't until last night that I got the message. For about two weeks now, God has whispered to me, "Hey Amber, you have to much on your plate, you are running to hard and to fast. Stop! Sit! Come find quiet in my presence. Let me spend significant time with you. Let me woo you and renew your spirit. You have a lot about to hit, spend time and rest in me. If you don't now, you won't find the time. Life will always be going but stop and sit with me." Of course, my response has been, "Ok, I would like that. Let me finish this and then I will. Really, this is the last thing and then I would love to sit with you." Then of course, the "last thing" always keeps going and my response becomes, "God, I don't need rest. I know you think I need renewal, but really I'm good. I know you love me, you don't have to woo me. Plus, I'm doing all of this for you, why don't you meet me in my busyness."
Let me tell you, I am now at a place where God has slapped me in the face. He has, through every outlet in my life, said enough is enough. It is time to rest in me. Of course, God is quite the gentleman and doesn't force himself upon me, but has his way of gently nudging me about his truth. So as I have finally arrived at a point that I know I need to be still, I have wondered, why is this command so hard for us to accept. Why do we not heed this command? Jesus told the Pharisees, "You search the scriptures, thinking in them you have eternal life, but they point to Me." How much is that us? We search the scripture, we don't cheat, we try not to lie (but that sin isn't as bad, right?), we do not have sex prematurely, we honor our fathers and mothers (do we know what that even means?), we have our hour quiet time every day, we serve in the children's ministry, we go to church every Sunday AND Wednesday, and we even throw in bible studies (four isn't to many right?). But see, just as Jesus told the Pharisees, I think he often is telling us, "You do these things and you think that these will bring about eternal life, but guess what, you're missing the point! All of these point to ME!"
So what will it take for us to slow down and sit? Do we know how to sit? Is it ok to be quiet? YES! God does not desire perfection or a full list of Christian duties checked off the "to-do" list, God desires for us to be with him, to delight in him, and to enjoy him. I think David is one of the few who got it. Psalm 51:16-17 says, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise"
I challenge you today, live a life of stillness. Protect your time with the Lord. Do not allow good intentions to separate you from enjoying the presence of God. If you haven't today, STOP! Be still and sit with your Creator. Let him love on you and sing over you with gladness.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
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