What does it mean to Be Still?

"Be Still..."

What does it mean to be still?  Does it mean no movement or calmness?  We have heard the Bible verses before, probably a hundred times but do we really know what it means to “rest”.  Yeah, sure we could take the humanistic version of the word “rest” and try to match it up with the verses where God says to “rest in Him”, but does it make sense?   The definition of rest is to “cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength” (dictionary.com).  Does that make sense?  “Cease work or movement and know that I am God”, not really.  Because if we know the character of God we know that He wants us to work and continue moving.  But what this scripture is saying is, if we are tired have our minds “cease work or movement”.  How does one do that, you ask?  Well, that can be a very difficult thing to do because there are so many things going on in our daily lives that to really “rest” one’s mind would require time and quite a bit of peace.  Because let’s be honest, who really has “time” anymore?  I mean, we’ve got bills to pay, people to please, lives to live.  Who really has the time to “rest” in Him?  And maybe we have some time, but can we really “rest” or “be still” in our minds and really “know” that He is God?  We struggle daily with things of this world.  What do we allow into our minds that really don’t need to be there in the first place?  99% of the things we worry about are of this world, possibly 100%.   We know that God says He take care of us… “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they” (Matthew 6:26).  We know that everything happens for a reason, and the things we achieve on earth don’t matter… “What do we gain by all of our hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen what difficult things God demands of us. ¹¹ God makes everything happen at the right time. Yet none of us can ever fully understand all he has done, and he puts questions in our minds about the past and the future. ¹² I know the best thing we can do is to always enjoy life, ¹³ because God’s gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do. ¹⁴ Everything God has done will last forever; nothing he does can ever be changed. God has done all this, so that we will worship him” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 CEV).  We know that God is good and that He works everything out… “We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.^[a] They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,” (Romans 8:28 CEV). 

We know these things, and yet, we still can’t find time to “be still”, or be tranquil, or peaceful, or calm.  We worry about the things of this world.  Why do we do that?  God tells us to know that He is God.  God is the Creator of the entire Universe.  He is merciful.  He loved us from the beginning of time.  He never gives up on us.  He restores our souls.  He leads us in the path of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).  He wants our heart and full attention on Him.  Not on the things of this world, because, He knows that the things of this world will always disappoint.  The things of this world will never fully satisfy.  The things of this world will never give us peace.  We have to find “rest” in Him and breathe in His promises to us.  Let Him lead our hearts to what He desires for us.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  Today, I want to challenge you to “be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10).  Whether it’s taking 5 minutes to really pray to Him about His will for us or to sit and listen to what He has to say to you through His word.  I feel as though the Lord wants to speak to us in a new and restoring way. 

Heavenly Father,

We know that You desire for us to be intimate with You and You alone.  Father, we ask that You would help us to see You today Lord and know who You really are.  We need to be close to You and to feel You soak in to our lives.  Thank You Jesus, for giving us Your Holy Spirit and allowing us to see this world for what it truly is.  Lord, we lift up to You our lives and pray that we can focus on You. 

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.