Be still and know.............

Psalm 46:10

    He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”

A simple statement "Be still............" Sounds easy huh but is it? God speaks to us today saying "Be still and know that I am God". Why is HE  saying so? When God told the Israelites to be still, what was the situation that they were in? 

Definitely not a favorable one. Pharaoh of Egypt was coming behind them with chariots and trained warriors. Before them was the red sea. Like the saying; "stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. However this one was "red" and not blue. They did not know how they would escape and I am sure they didn't know how to defend themselves either against trained warriors. With what would they use in combat? The sheep, unleavened bread or the silver and gold they plundered from the Egyptians?

They knew and believed God had sent Moses to help them come out but they hadn't yet seen the wonders of God. The natural instinct of man is to do something or anything when in a tough situation because of FEAR. In this case they didn't know what to do but throwing accusations, angry fist or murmuring was a pretty option to them. Then God tells them "Be still........" How easy would that be if you were there? Seriously it would have helped if God had added the plan for deliverance right after saying “Be still”. At least natural calmness would have followed. He didn’t. Only the leader heard the instructions.

God knows we always want to do something about the situation or challenges we face, using our own strength and might but he never called us to do so. It is human inclination to help ourselves when we are in situations like how the first Adam and eve helped themselves by covering their nakedness. However when it comes to our relationship with him; He says "Be still...” David says in the book of psalm 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." God knows naturally we do not want to lie down but when we allow God to take over, he will make us lie down in green pastures where we didn't plant or toil for. Reason is he led us there and it is the still waters that he would lead us to.

So how easy is that? To me doing nothing is tougher than doing something. I can’t seem to help it, I feel better when I know something is being done. May not necessarily be by me but I would definitely add some anxiety here and there to make it complete. I might even come up with scriptures and quotes on why I should do something. My reward normally ranges between migraines and dark circles around the eyes but that isn’t what God wants me to do. He just wants me to be still. So then what is it in being still? What does it even mean? Is it when I sit at one place and keep quiet? This is how Wikipedia defines stillness;

Adjective: Not moving or making a sound

Noun: Deep silence and calm; stillness

Adverb: Without moving

Verb: Make or become still

Synonyms

Adjective: quiet - calm - tranquil - peaceful - placid - quiescent

Noun: silence - quiet - calm - stillness - hush - quietness

Adverb: yet - more - nevertheless

Verb: calm - pacify - appease - soothe - quiet - lull - quieten

From the above if God is telling you to be still. He means do the above. Stop worrying about things which are none of your concern. Like I mean “you” can’t fix it and even if you can do something he says don’t. So relax and know he is control. What do we gain from it? How does it help us?

Isaiah 30:15 says “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength, But you were not willing” Our strength comes when we are still and waiting on the lord. It is only when the river is still before one can see its depth/bottom. In your stillness you gain strength and God is exalted.

So be still.........................