Stop and listen....

One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 46:10

Psalms 46:10-11 (10)"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (11) The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.

The idea behind the "Be still..." command is the same as "stop striving, thrashing about."  I remember reading about instructions to lifeguards.  If a swimmer (drowner) is thrashing about, struggling, trying to keep themselves from drowning, the rescuer (lifeguard) has to approach them from behind.  They also have to wait until the person quits trying to rescue themselves.  Then, and only then, is the lifeguard able to secure the drowning person and tow them back to safety.  In essence, it is only when the person drowning "gives up," that the rescuer can then come close, help and save them.

 

What a great word picture for you and me in our relationship with Jesus!  Even Christians grab at the temporary things of this life!  So often, when found in a troubling situation or circumstance, we grapple and try to grasp the things we think will bring us quick relief, satisfaction and sustaining joy.

 

This thinking also leads me to Proverbs 3:5-8, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. (7) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (8) It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."
 

Will you stop?  Will you listen?  Will you "trust in the LORD with all your heart"?

 

Read on to see what PW has to say about this today!

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

---

Fear v. God: Selah Posted: 09 Apr 2010 09:46 AM PDT "The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" (Psalm 46:7) Stop and listen. Get this. Don't miss it. Ponder it for a minute. Pause before continuing. Value this. That's how scholars describe the meaning of that word "Selah." It shows up in our Bibles most often in psalms, or songs, meant to be sung by the choir, but it seems to carry more weight than just a musical direction. It apparently urges us to reflect on what has just been written (or sung). Fear is a normal response when an enemy is attacking, when the bad news is piling up, when it feels like everything you care about is threatened. But God is with us, and He is the ultimate safe place. Once He is with you, there is no where safer to run. Think about that. Think: Does feeling afraid ever make you want to run away from God? What other, less safe "fortresses" do you run to when you're scared? Why? Pray: Thank God that He is with you and that He is your fortress. Ask Him to help you to run to Him and trust Him most when you are afraid. Do: Read this quote from C.S. Lewis: "It is a dreadful truth that the state of (as you say) 'having to depend solely on God' is what we all dread most. And of course that just shows how very much, how almost exclusively, we have been depending on things. But trouble goes so far back in our lives and is now so deeply ingrained, we will not turn to Him as long as He leaves us anything else to turn to." — C. S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady (Grand Rapids, 1967), page 47, italics his. (via Ray Ortlund)

--
Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/