It has been a long time since I have had a free moment to write…
I love to write and share what God has been teaching me. It’s such a cool and refreshing thing to click the “publish” button and post a blog and watch what God will do with it…It always ministers to me first and if it blesses the LORD and He uses it to encourage another I am thrilled beyond explanation.
Lately God has been telling me the importance of this, “BE STILL”
The other day I was changing my son’s diaper. I told him “hold still.” Next I told him, “be still” with a louder tone. Finally I said exclaiming, “Be still or I will spank you!” He didn’t listen to the warning. Without getting into too much graphic details due to all the defiance and squirming, he got poop up his back, on his clothes, on me and on his bed. Then, he got a spanking. It was so upsetting after I cleaned the mess I got on my knees and wept. “Why won’t he listen? I am trying to clean him. I am trying to make him better. I am trying to refresh him. Why does he make me spank him? Why won’t he just be still?”
God told me… “Laura, you can be the same way…I tell you all the time to be still and when you don’t listen, I have to discipline you”
OUCH!!!!!!!!!
Talk about a teachable moment for me from my Abba.
We all know the verse, “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. You may even have it memorized. You may have it posted somewhere or highlighted in your Bible. But do you know what Psalm 46:11 says? I must confess I didn’t know…As I was reading Psalm 46:10 AGAIN I read the following:
“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 refuge.” Psalm 46:10-11
God wants us to be still…but its not like a “time out.” God always asks us, invites us, and then if we are stubborn commands us to be still for a reason. Here, he wants us to know that He is the LORD of hosts…He is Yahweh Sabaoth, the LORD of heavenly hosts. The LORD who fights our battles. Get it? Be still and Know He is God. Stop squirming and stressing over things. Whatever your battle is, HE IS FIGHTING FOR YOU.
Look at this awesome passage:
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17
Once again, God is telling us to “stand still” so we can allow Him to first, calm our fears, second, remind us who is fighting the battle (Him and not us) and always, and I mean always remember He is with us!
Just this morning I was reading in my daily devotions and I came to Leviticus 26. In Lev. 26:1-18 (to paraphrase and briefly summarize) God is telling the people of Israel not to make idols, keep the Sabbath, reverence or keep holy the sanctuary, keep the statutes and commandments and perform them and then His promise is to give rain, give fruitful lands and peace and when enemies come, the people of God would defeat them (ie., victories). He then gives the best promise of all, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Lev. 26: 12. All of these great promises are amazing.
But THIS was what the Holy Spirit really brought alive to me:
But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you. 'And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.” Lev. 26:14-18
Basically, a spanking…and it will HURT!
Please, please don’t get me wrong. God is not a disciplinarian with a ruler in His hand waiting for the moment we mess up to slap our wrist. No way. God is a loving father. Just as I illustrated, I am a loving mother. I am not going to let my son continue with a soiled diaper that is going to cause a rash and hurt him. I am going to ask him to be still and if he won’t listen I am going to discipline him…because I love him and want what’s best for him period. It’s the same with the LORD. He first asks us to be still. If we don’t listen to His nudging, He may command us to be still and if we aren’t we will suffer the consequences. Discipline is necessary for growth. If this is true with earthly parents who love us, would it not be true with our Heavenly Father?
Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2
Let’s not be a defiant child. Let’s quiet our soul and listen to our Abba Father. Let’s be like a weaned child with his mother. Totally at peace, totally safe, without a fear and knowing if danger should come, our Abba Father is indeed the LORD of Hosts and He’s got it all under control. Would you have it any other way? Of course not. Yield your self-willed defiance to Him and allow him to change you…it’s only meant for your good. He fights your battles and all He asks for is your obedience.
