Be Still And Know
Daily Old Testament Reading: Psalm 46, 80, 135
Daily Focus Passage: Psalm 46
We live in a world that causes pain. We live battling various enemies that often cause anxiety and unsettledness. We become plagued by fear instead of resting in faith and trusting in the Lord completely. In Psalm 46, the Psalmist declares that we must recognize the presence of our fear and put it aside. We must live in faith because we must learn to trust the Lord. The Psalmist declared from the Lord that we must "be still and know that he is God.” What does this phrase indicate for our lives today?
WE KNOW GOD IS OUR REFUGE
The Lord is the place of rest and safety. A refuge is a place of safety that provides protection from those who pursue you or gives shelter from danger. The Psalmist acknowledges that the true place of safety comes from the Lord and not from the work of humanity. When we trust in the Lord as our refuge, we acknowledge our trust in his power, provision, and goodness. What threats are coming at you today? Are you seeking refuge in the Lord or attempting to conquer them yourself?
WE KNOW GOD IS OUR STRENGTH
The Lord provides the strength to overcome the threats and obstacles before us. The Psalmist recognizes the frailty of the strength of humanity. He understands that the Lord provides the needed strength to accomplish the task. The Lord strengthens those he calls and gives them the needed patience and endurance to claim victory and success. We grow weary and frustrated when we attempt to live in our strength. When we consider life, are we attempting to live by the strength that comes from the Lord or the strength of our hands?
WE KNOW GOD IS OUR EVER-PRESENT HELP
The Lord gives assurance, hope, and encouragement because he is our ever-present help. The Lord does not forsake his own. He does not leave us to ourselves; instead, he takes us on the journey. He works before us and is with us as we journey. The Lord’s ever-present help is consistent with his character; thus, we can trust his presence. When you consider the ever-present nature of the Lord, how are you encouraged in this life?
BE STILL AND KNOW
The call for believers to be still and know means that believers must stop frantic behavior and come into the posture of stillness. This posture does not mean that one ceases activities; instead, it indicates the pursuit of the Lord for guidance and help. When we become still, our attention turns from being a lone ranger to trusting in the Lord for help. At the same time, we receive the call to know the Lord as the refuge, strength, and ever-present help. Thus, when we properly become still, we enter the ability to understand, know, and experience the Lord. We must strive to enter the state of being still and knowing as we seek to follow the Lord.
