Psalms 46:10 “Be Still and Know that I am God”
In this busy world that we live in, how often do we actually take the time to BE STILL in the presence of God? I don’t know about you, but some part of me is constantly moving. If I am sitting, my mind is running or my foot is tapping. We live in a go, go go society! I think I have convinced myself that I am living this verse when I sit down to have a quiet time in the morning and get in the word. I have a system- I read the Proverbs of the day, read whatever book of the Bible I am exploring that day, often times read My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, look for something enlightening that I can apply to my day, my life, or something I can preach about, write it in my journal and pray as I go.
God grabbed my attention this week and made me begin to understand that, although good intentioned, this has nothing to do with “being Still and knowing HIM!”
My husband is a wonderful man and fabulous husband. He is probably more affectionate and giving than any other man out there! I am very blessed. One thing he loves to do is just hang out together and watch TV. It is relaxing to him. The other day I was busying myself by packing our kitchen for our upcoming move and he was relaxing on the couch. He wanted me to sit down with him and I thought…”is he crazy, we have way to much to do.” My problem is that there is always something more to do. Something to clean, someone to take care of, some phone to answer or email to write. I have a hard time sitting down and watching TV when I feel like there is so much to get done. However; my husband wanted me to come and sit with him and just be. He didn’t care if I wanted to watch the show he was watching, he wasn’t thinking about the things that needed to be done, he just wanted to be with me and to relax in my presence and I in his. That time is so valuable to him because it is what communicates my love to him. If I could not set my busyness aside and relax with my husband, it would create a rift in our relationship. The things that need to get done, get done! I am having to learn to take this time to show my love.
There is a similar story in the New Testament about Mary and Martha. They are having a party that Jesus is attending and Martha wants everything to be perfect (good intentioned) and she finds her sister Mary just chilling at Jesus’ feet. She gets mad because she wanted Mary to busy herself in making everything perfect but Mary just wanted to BE with Jesus. We live in a Martha world. Anything and everything is at our finger tips. There is always something more to do and perfection is always an arms length away.
The problem is, that like my husband, God just desires for us to BE with Him. It means setting aside our plans, our ideas, our needs and desires and just being still before God. Not having a system, but just to BE in His presence and to Know that He is God!
God is calling to each and everyone of us. Can we take the time to “come” to Him? If we do, we will experience peace and love like never before. Something that no perfect scripture verse can provide but that can only be found in His presence!
