Tuesday, July 28, 2009

July 28, 2009

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Psalm 46:10-11

Here's a pop quiz: "I have learned more about life through: (A) Listening (B) Talking.

Yea, me, too.

Maybe God was giving us a hint when He created us with two ears and one mouth. Unfortunately, listening doesn't come naturally to us - talking does.
I think that what the Psalmist is telling you is the same thing my Mom and my Kindergarten teacher taught you - "be quiet, pay attention and keep your hands to yourself". Great advice!
Apply that advice to this Psalm and I think it works pretty well. "Be still" means essentially that. Be quiet before the Lord, look at His Word and listen to His Spirit, and keep your hands off of what you want God to do. That sounds like it might work!
Here's what's in it for you if you can take the advice you got from God, Mom and Miss Jenny:
You will "know that He is God".
It is one thing to know that in your head and quite another to know it in your heart and spirit. Nothing gives you more confidence and boldness than knowing that God is real in your life.
You will see Him exalted in your life and in the world. In other words, when you confidently know Who God is and He becomes real TO - He becomes real THROUGH you. That is how He exalts Himself through you. When He exalts Himself through you He begins to become real to others through your life!
You will know that the "Almighty" is with you.
How great is it to know that God is with you! And as Romans tells us,"If God be for us, who can be against us?"
You will know that He is your "Fortress".
I like the sound of that, don't you? He is a FORTRESS - that's strong! He's strong!
Be quiet before God! Pay attention to God! Keep your hands to yourself! He will make it worth it!