BE STILL AND KNOW

BE STILL AND KNOW

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Today is "Black Friday" - supposedly the
biggest shopping day of the year. I couldn't believe that there were
stores that were open last night, let alone opening up at 3:00 AM this
morning to get ready for the Christmas season. The hustle and bustle has
begun.

As I thought about the craziness and fast-pace of the holidays, today's
reading from STREAMS IN THE DESERT was so fitting ...

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

"Is there any note in all the music world as mighty as the grand pause?
Is there any word in the Psalms more eloquent than the word 'Selah,'
meaning pause? Is there anything more thrilling and awe-inspiring than
the calm before the crashing of the storm, or the strange quiet that
seems to fall upon nature before some supernatural phenomenon or
disastrous upheaval? And is there anything that can touch our hearts
like the POWER OF STILLNESS?

For the hearts that will cease focusing on themselves, there is 'the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding' (Phil. 4:7),
'quietness and trust (Isaiah 30:15), which is the source of all
strength; a 'great peace' that will never 'make them stumble' (Psalm
119:165); and a deep rest, which the world can never give or take away.
Deep within the center of the soul is a chamber of peace where God lives
and where, if we will enter it and quiet all other sounds, we can hear
His 'gentle whisper' (1 Kings 19:12).

Even in the fastest wheel that is turning, if you look at the center,
where the axle is found, there is no movement at all. And even in the
busiest life, there is a place where we may dwell alone with God in
eternal stillness.

There is only one way to know God: 'Be still, and know.' 'The Lord is in
His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.' (Hab. 2:20)

All-loving Father, sometimes we have walked under starless skies that
dripped darkness like drenching rain. We despaired from the lack of
light from the sun, moon, and stars. The gloomy darkness loomed above us
as if it would last forever. And from the dark, there spoke no soothing
voice to mend our broken hearts. We would gladly have welcomed even a
wild clap of thunder, if only to break the torturing stillness of that
mournfully depressing night.

Yet your soft whisper of eternal love spoke even more sweetly to our
bruised and bleeding souls than any winds that breathe across a wind
harp. It was Your 'gentle whisper' that spoke to us. We were listening
and we heard You, and then we looked and saw Your face, which was
radiant with the light of Your love. And when we heard Your voice and
saw Your face, new life returned to us, just as life returns to withered
blossoms that drink the summer rain."

Good words for today.

Great quote: [God desires] not that He may say to them, "Look how mighty
I am, and go down upon your knees and worship," for power alone was
never yet worthy of prayer; but that He may say thus: "Look, my
children, you will never be strong but with my strength. I have no other
to give you. And that you can get only by trusting in me. I cannot give
it you any other way. There is no other way." George Macdonald