Be still and know.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted [honored] among the nations,
I will be exalted [honored] in the earth."
-Psalm 46:10

Our pastor opened devotion this morning with Psalm 46:10. What a powerful verse. As this group of women begin (or continue) this journey in Bible study we experience a range of emotions. For me, it was excitement. I was excited, after taking the summer "off", to see the women in my small group who have become more than a Christian acquaintance, but have become my friends. Heidi, as you found in her post is nervous. So, in your excitement, nervousness, anxiousness take a moment, just a moment and be still.

Be still and know that HE is God.

The context of this passage, as our pastor explained it, is that the Psalmist is describing the turmoil of the world, the the Lord can cease wars and shatter the spear, verse 10 is not the Psalmist but rather God interjecting and saying "BE STILL". In my mind I hear this thunderous voice and the world actually falling silent, war ceasing, the oceans still and the tongues of men quiet and a resounding peace.

Then, we listened to Steven Curtis Chapman's "Be Still and Know". Here are just some of the lyrics:

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still

As we sat there and listened I bowed my head and closed my eyes, I tried to forget that there were other people there with me and visually and mentally tried to set everything aside, for just a moment to be still, "stand in awe and be amazed". He has done so much in my life, yet in the hustle and bustle and the to-do lists I am rarely considering all that He has done.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about being fearful of the Lord preparing us to have to deal with something big. More of a fear of having to deal with tragedy. That we have experienced so many of His blessings lately that something bad is bound to happen. Is it that type of fear that brings us to a place of complacency? That if we dig in to the word and prepare ourselves and build our faith we will be put to the test and might endure some type of pain or suffering?

The TRUTH is that He knows His plan for us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope, and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Because the devil is real, tragedy does occur and will occur and is occurring. My prayer would be that I, and you, never have to deal with tragedy; that if you have you can put your hope in the Lord; that if we do we can turn to the Lord instead of away from Him, that we can focus on Him and let Him slay our giants; that we would surrender to Him. The Lord doesn't bring tragedy, the Lord knows that because of the devil there will be tragedy and He places all of His infinite knowledge, wisdom and the tools for preparation at our feet and we need to pick up our cross and keep trudging forward in a world of broken pieces knowing that He has gone before us.

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." - Deuteronomy 31:8

And that in all of it, we can stop for a moment, be still, stand in awe of what He has done. Set aside our fears, our anxieties, our joys and celebrations and be reverent.