Be still. . . .

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1–3, 10–11)

As I read this, the upstairs television features a podcast with a few people discussing world events with strong opinions of what is happening and how to fix it. They are anxious and worried. 

Downstairs my Bible features a song of faith that initially fixes the fear then gives solutions such as: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” (Vs. 4–5)
He can do this because He is “the Lord of hosts” and “with us” and “our fortress.” “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.” (Vs. 9)

On a Sunday morning, the sun is shining, trees leaf out, birds sing. They know nothing of the wars and struggles or the major problems that plague the human mind. The cosmos, even the sparrows and trees thrive in the care of their Maker. They know how to be still in the knowledge of God. And we humans are supposed to be made in His image and rated as the highest in His creation?

What fools we are to create strife and problems because of our own selfishness and then argue and even scream at each other trying to fix it, still with our own selfish ideas and goals. Instead of being still and trusting God.

Lord Jesus, we need a revival of renewed faith, of awareness and conviction of such sinfulness, of repentance that is deeply serious and able to be still and know You, the One who can make all things right and at peace. Visit us and be exalted in this twisted up place called earth.

 

Hearing God’s Voice

 

READ Psalm 36–40

Yesterday, I woke up tired and sad, but praised God anyway and He gave me joy. This morning, after a good sleep, that joy remains and as I read these psalms that describe the extremes of the psalmist’s experience and emotions, I see the faithfulness of God running through the descriptions. No matter what the writer is going through, good or bad, happy or in distress, he knows the grace of God and the wonder of being in a right relationship with Him.

Copying these verses here does not duplicate the experience of being convicted of sin, nor does it produce His presence or the joy He puts in my heart when bring my cares to the Lord. I can say it is there, feel intensely, yet know that anyone reading those verses or what I write about them may not experience the same result. Only the Spirit of God can speak to the human heart. Only God can speak through this book of praise and fill the reader with conviction and/or delight. And in some ways, that is sad, however it should not be. I am not God. I do not know what is needed in the lives of others. Most of the time, I’m not too certain what I need!

But God knows. He picks out verses to touch my mind, to wake up His joy in me. He reminds me of truths that I so easily forget and gives me songs to sing the rest of the day. All I can say to that is that everyone should read this book of books for themselves and discover that it is alive. By that, I mean God is able to take the parts, or the verses and thoughts that each reader needs to hear and lift that person above their current situation, meeting the need of what to think about, of what to confess, or learn, or relearn and remember.

For me and for this day, God speaks to me through these songs. In Psalm 36, the people without fear of God are said to plot trouble while in their beds. I’ve done that, confessed it and am glad that the rest of the psalm assures me of God’s steadfast love and how He rescues His people from all sorts of things, including the foolishness of trying to rule my world without Him or His wisdom.

Psalm 37 begins with:

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:1–4)

While some think this means He will give me whatever I want, I’ve learned that is simply not true. Like a daddy whose child keeps asking for too much candy, God knows what is best for me. What a hard lesson for this spoiled brat to learn that my heavenly Father loves me too much to let me rule my own life, wanting or seeking things not good for me.

Instead, these verses mean that when I delight in the Lord and obey Him, the desires that fill my heart are from Him, not from worldly or sinful eye candy. He lovingly enables me to want His best for me instead of some vain substitutes — that wind up being sad regrets, never mind a waste of time and energy. The next verses pack a punch also:

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. (37:5–11)

There is much more in the remaining chapters that urge me to guard my ways and forsake all sin, reminding me of the fate of those who ignore God. The last two verses are a prayer and David’s words are my prayer too:

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (40:16–17)

Feeling poor and needy is not fun, but it is far better than being appalled because of sin and shame! For this and for God’s voice I am deeply grateful!

 

Comfort in Loss

 

READ Psalm 66–70

Yesterday ended with sadness. I have a relative in California who turned 104 in January. We visited him in mid-December. He was an engineer who retired in his eighties and told us if he could see and hear better, he’d still be working. He was lonely as the place where he lived had no one with the same interests. We shared the gospel with him, unsure of his relationship with the Lord. He mailed us a thank you card the next day.

Yesterday, his daughter called to let us know that he had died Monday evening. I immediately felt a big hole in my heart, not shocked yet deeply saddened. He was the last of that generation in our family, a strong person who loved to share his ideas on how to fix major world problems. I’d been praying for three things: one, that God would provide someone with his interests to visit him, two that when he died, it would be easy not a painful struggle, and three, that he would hear and respond to the Lord and be ready for that last event.

Yesterday, his daughter told me that a pastor had been visiting him for a few months and even brought an engineer from his congregation so that my dear cousin could talk shop with someone. She also told me that the pastor came to visit him Monday morning and shared with him the Easter message. He quietly died Monday night. My husband said it seemed to him that the Lord gave him what he needed to believe, then gently took him home.

Of course we cannot know that for sure, but the Lord answered the other two main prayers. It seems the third has a strong possibility for being answered also. As I shared what I’d prayed with his daughter, she said things that showed me He was also answering my prayers for her.

This morning came with mixed emotions. However, each morning I start with singing praises and praying as the Lord puts thoughts into my head. The first song in my booklet of lyrics was “Be Still My Soul” — a lovely expression of trusting God when times are tough. These lines prepared me for the reading in Psalms:

    Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

    Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

    Leave to thy God to order and provide;

    In every change, He faithful will remain.

And . . .  

    Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

    And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

    Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

    Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

    Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

    From His own fullness all He takes away.

After praising Him in prayer and music, He spoke back to me:

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. (Psalm 66:5)

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. (Psalm 66:16–17)

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! (Psalm 66:20)

While the hole in my heart will remain for a time, I pray with the psalmist, “I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:5) and I know that He will lift the cloud and comfort us as we grieve the parting this dear man and as we trust him to the loving care of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise

    On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;

    Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,

    So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.

    Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine

    Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Thank You, Jesus.