Prayer Focus: BEING STILL

BEING STILL 

 Lately, several good people have shared with me, a deep heart desire for their lives as they are approaching 2012. The common denominator is a desire to slow down; by getting their priorities in order and just to do less. Yet, what will be done will be accomplished with more substance.

The life Jesus lived on this earth proved that taking life 'one step', 'one day' and even 'one soul' at a time will reap eternal rewards; bringing all the glory to God. Yet, the lives we live today have seemingly taken a turn to: "The busier the more successful we must be." We have adopted this exhausting philosophy into our lifestyles. What is the end result?
  “The Chinese word for “busy” is made of two characters.  The first is heart,” and the second is “killing.”  For the Chinese, to be busy is to kill the heart." [Dr. T. Dukes] 
  Sensing the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God's children, I personally can see God calling His children to come and sit close to Him. Taking each new day and slow down. Being still in the presence of our maker and teaching our children to do so as well. Think how we feel when we take a day off to rest, or go on a restful vacation. We come back looking, thinking and feeling revived, with clearer minds and hearts!

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

In the Hebrew, 'Be still' is raphah which means: to relax, withdraw, let drop, alone and weaken. The absence of motion! Mega, OUCH! We have a fixed notion within us that we must be busy, we must go, go, go! But, this is contrary to the Word of God. As children of the most High, it's time to hear our Father calling out to us to BE STILL!

  In this passage in Psalms, God is regarding two aspects. One is for the enemies of His children who are waging war against them to be still. Being that He is God...He stills them too! As He accomplishes that....they SEE that He indeed is God.  Who or what is your enemy? Cancer, sickness, disease, bill collectors, gossips and the list piles up doesn't it? God will cause them sooner or later to BE STILL! 

  The second aspect of this passage is for God's children to 'settle down', relax, CHILL out and be still. Many times in counselling individuals who are just stressed beyond imagination ask me; "How can I be calm, (be still)?" The answer is wonderfully simple= KNOW YOUR GOD. Recall the definition: to 'know'; in God's Word is- coming into Him. As we sit still, meditate on His Word, bask in the true fullness of His Presence...our spirits 'calm' to a place of stillness. It is then that we can be healed, hear His voice and flow in the directive of His plans for our lives.   

    Matthew 6:25-27 - "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

  

  Let this be the way we pray and live. By first and foremost being still and KNOWING He indeed is our God!

Have a happy New Year! Looking forward in hearing back from you on how God is leading you to start out on this refreshing change in your lives.     

 

Blessings!

Daneille 'Gray' Snowden