Jump Start # 550

Psalms 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

  This Psalm, like others, makes a shift from talking ABOUT God to God talking to the Psalmist. This chapter illustrates the power and activity of God, especially in calamity. The mountains slip into the sea, our Jump Start yesterday, from verses 1-2, yet God is our refuge and we will not fear. God makes wars cease (9); He “wrought desolations in the earth” (8). He raised His voice and the earth melted (6). God is with us. God is our refuge, our stronghold, our present help. Wonderful expressions from this chapter.

  Cease striving is translated “Be still” in other versions. It’s as if God is placing His finger to His lips and telling us to “hush.” “Be still.” “Cease striving.” Sit down. I like the “be still.” I need that. We all probably need that. We are a busy people. Often too busy with too many irons in the fire to do much good anywhere. We don’t have time to sit on the back deck with friends. We don’t have time to visit. Our prayer life suffers because we are busy. Worship is often quick and short. Going here, going there. In all this busyness, we can rush right by the most important, and that is God. Be still and know that I am God.

  Well, I know that He is God. I’ve known that for a long time. That’s not the point here. It’s not a matter of convincing someone about God—it’s recognizing God, everyday, in my life. He’s there. My busy life can take my eyes off of God and off of the eternal. We can be so tied up with the here and now and the right and the left that we forget that there is an up and a down.

  Be still…Sit down…turn the TV off…put the phone and the other gadgets in other room. You’ll live. You don’t have to see that text message this second. You don’t have to read the email as soon as it hits your inbox. It’s ok, you’ll live. Turn off the music. Take a breath. Now think about God. Think about His holiness. Think about what He wants from you. He has a plan for you, what is it? Think about what God likes…things like truth, goodness, His church, His word, you. Yes, God likes you. Let your mind dwell upon what is good, holy, pure.

  Even during church services, while singing a song about God, our minds are racing. Be still. Slow down. Cease striving. Look upward. Look inward. Look outward. Look backward to the cross. It may be that we have gotten too busy for God. When that happens we are just too busy. Too busy to pray? I hope not. Too busy to read His word? Don’t let that happen. To busy to assemble for worship? No, surely not.

  Be still is not so much about sitting down as it is being calm on the inside. Fear, worry, disappointment and sin can create so much uneasiness in us that we are overcome by those things. Be still is the answer. Jesus came to give peace, a peace unlike the world. A peace that starts inside and works its way out. Calm hearts in the midst of a fractured world. Hearts that are not striving in a world of strife.

 Be still and know that I am God. I am on the throne. I am in charge. I am able to do all things. Be still and know that. Be still and quit trying to solve things without Me. Be still and stop trying to live without Me. Be still and know that I AM.

  I need that reminder. I need that peace. I need that God. Some folks call this “quiet time” with God. I think that idea comes from passages like this. Be still time. Time to recognize God. Time to reflect upon God. Time for God.

  Make an appointment for you and God. Nothing interrupts that appointment. Keep that appointment. Be still…and know God.

Roger