"Be still, and know that I am God."
"Be still," it says. This needs no interpretation. It is what it is. Be still to listen. Can you listen well when busy and moving? No. You can listen but not very well. Do you want to hear God? You have to be able to listen - and listen very closely. So be still. It is God’s Word and his commandment to us. “Be still.” God wants your undivided attention. He wants to spend time with you and you alone.
Are distractions getting in the way of your time with God and your attempt to "be still"?
Is God more important than that telephone call? What if it is an emergency? How many times a day is it an emergency? I can’t think of any true emergency phone calls that I have received over the years. Don’t you know if you are spending time with God in his presence, seeking him that he will let you know if there is an emergency or take care of it himself? Don’t do what I just did. Yes, in the middle of writing God’s words and spending time with him, I went to answer the phone. The Holy Spirit stopped me to say, “Are you being still?” No, I was not being still. I jumped up going straight to that phone. I said, “It could be my kids at school with a need, so I should answer.” I may as well have said, “Hold on God, I need to get this.” How utterly ridiculous is that? Let me stop God and answer the phone. I am even now still wondering who called me. Why? I will tell you why: Satan does not want me to spend time with my God and come close to him. That distraction in my head is Satan’s temptation to halt this time for me. We need to recognize distractions as Satan’s work. Don’t let Satan stand in your way of God. Distractions are not your desires. Your desire is to spend time with God. You are sitting still and focusing on God. You’re making every effort to be with God. Your desire is God, not the telephone. How soon we forget how many things Satan will try in order to stop our time with God.
If you want to hear the voice of God you need to learn to “be still.” When you are still in the presence of God, you can listen. To hear the voice of God you need to learn to listen for it. The first step in learning to listen to God’s voice is learning to “be still.” Is it easy to sit still and focus on God’s voice? It is not always easy due to our busy brains. However I have some great news for you. You can actually pray for the power to “be still.” Nothing is too small or insignificant for God to stop in order for you to spend time together. No distraction is too small for God to stop so that you may be with him. Just ask. Sit down, be still and be with God. Be quiet and simply do as the verse says, “Be still and know that I am God.” If a distraction comes, give it to God. He is a good God and will make a way for you to spend time with him. But first show him what you want and BE STILL for him.
Written by Truly
(I wrote this in 2007.)
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