Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
Psalm 46 is probably one of the most well-known chapters of Scripture. Many of us have probably found comfort and peace in the words of verses 1-3 at some point. We find assurance here that no matter what comes our way, God is always there. He is ever-present. We can run to Him and find strength. This is one of those passages that we should probably memorize and store away in our hearts and minds, as many of us will likely need to access it more than once in our lives. It’s probably worthy of a sticky note on our bathroom mirror because as we talked about yesterday, we will all inevitably face storms in this life. The earth will give way beneath us, the mountains we’ve been on in the smooth times will fall, and the sea waters will roar around us. And when those times come, fear will threaten to overtake us, and we may feel like God is anything but ever-present.
Let’s look ahead to verse 10: “Be still and know that I am God.” I’m certain this verse is probably in the top three most printed verses in the spiritual home decor section at our favorite home and crafts store. It’s one I have read more times than I can count and often just skim over, telling myself that I already know He is God. But as I read it in the full context of this chapter, as I wrote this devotional and considered it in relation to yesterday’s scripture, it took on a new meaning.
What do you do when things don’t go as expected? Whether a bad day at work, an extra bill that over-drafted your account, a medical diagnosis, or any other thing that rocks your boat. I’ll tell you what I do - I panic. I immediately start trying to fix things and figure out how I can restore the normal equilibrium of my life and those around me. My mind spins with all of the ways I can gain control of the situation because I have confidence in my control (I know, very spiritual of me). But this verse tells us to BE STILL.
If you’re like me, the last thing you want to do when there are problems to be solved is to be still. How are we going to fix things if we’re sitting still?! News flash - we're not going to fix them either way! In addition to being still, it says to know that HE is God. Not me. Not you. God is God. He controls the wind and rain, and He controls our situations. So, while it is wildly counter-intuitive to our humanness, He wants us to calm down and let Him work. Take a breath and acknowledge His power; honor Him with our reverence. While this verse certainly speaks to our daily lives of taking time to be still before Him, I don’t think it is any coincidence that it is written at the end of a chapter on God as our helper in hard times and the mighty works of His hands.
As we read yesterday, Jesus was still in the storm. He knew who was in control. So, when the oceans roar and the mountains fall around you, take a seat. Be still. Know that He is God (and we are not), and He remains in control.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship
As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.
