Be Still

If someone asked you how busy you were these days, what would your response be?  I know what mine would be, “Are you kidding me?”  Not to be sarcastic, but seriously, who isn’t?  With peoples work, family, kids, and church ministries, it is a hurried kind of life, right?  I will be the first one to admit guilt here, but it shouldn’t be this way.  Lately, I have been sooo guilty of letting the daily events of life overflow into my Bible study time and prayer time.

The Word tells us that these scriptures should be our guidelines for living.

“Be still and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

We must find quiet time with God.  It is essential to our physical and spiritual well being.  Jesus told us to occupy until He comes.  He meant for us to be about our Fathers business, which is winning souls for the kingdom of God.  How can we diligently work for the Lord without taking time to minister to Him?  We need to rest and get a “second wind” at some point.  There is no better way to get that wind, than from the Word of God, or from communion with the Father.  The Bible says in Psalm 63 “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:  my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”  And theres no doubt in my mind that He will quench that thirst if we will just allow Him to.  Also, in Proverbs 25:25, the Bible says “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”  The Bible is good news from Heaven.  If we will meditate in His word we will be quenched just as His word promises.  Once we take time to rest in Gods word, that is when we will be able to carry on about the Fathers business.  How many of us know lay-men and lay-women as well as pastors that have burned out simply because they did not take the time to rest?

I think that it is time to take some timeouts in our busy lives, so that we can focus on God.  I know that the Lord has been speaking to me recently about taking a break so that He and I can talk.  And I don’t mean sitting down on God, but not letting a good intention of helping others get in the way of our relationship with Him.  Again, how can I help anyone if Ive not spent much time with God, and how much more can I help others if I do spend more time with Him.  For example,  Acts 4:13 says “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”  When we have been with Jesus, it is recognizable.  The Holy Spirit within us brings a comforting presence to those around us.  Our smile is seen as not just  an ordinary smile, but one that releases joy.  Compassion flows through us and people can tell that we have been with Jesus. When people can tell that we have been with Jesus, that is when our ministry can begin. 

I know we all want to be productive, and we don’t want to deliberately abuse the temple of the Lord.  We should understand that our bodies do not function well without rest or under too much stress.  Constantly staying busy and forsaking our alone time with God will cause us to be ill and dull our senses to the voice of the Father.  We need to always be at a place where we can hear the gentle voice of the Lord when he calls to us saying, “Be still and know that I am God.”