December 27th, 2020
Text: Psalm 46:10a
Be still, and know that I am God! (NRSV)
This Psalm is about the fact that it is the power of God that protects us in a world that is teetering on the edge of destruction. It begins with the well know verse “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
It seems that all our worry and fretting about the state of current affairs is not what accomplishes God’s work in our world. It is God who accomplishes God’s work. I’m sure that this is not really a surprise to you. But, if it is not a surprise, why is it that you worry and fret so much?
As with many of these devotions, I find that I am really talking to myself and not to you. I’m glad you are “listening”, and I hope they are meaningful for you as well but, again, I find myself reminding myself about God’s word. Linda is always asking me why I worry so much about the future. She is always reminding me that either a certain thing will happen, or it won’t. She is, of course, right. I tell her that if I don’t worry about it, it will certainly all fall apart. I am, of course, wrong.
Be still and know that God is God and that you are not. These are the words I often need to hear as I scurry around worrying about things over which I have no control. These are the words I need to hear as I make plans for the disasters that never happen. These are the words I need to hear when I give lip service to the first verse of this Psalm; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” but, really don’t demonstrate my faith by being still and knowing that God has this.
As we leave behind a very disappointing 2020 and head into the new year, my prayer for me and, perhaps for you, is that we leave the worry behind. I pray that we believe with our whole heart that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. And that we "still" our worried spirits and know that God is God!
Pray with me:
My Refuge and my Strength in times of trouble and fear. Calm me in the midst of the chaos of this broken world and grant me the peace that truly comes in being still and knowing that you are God. AMEN.
Be still, and know that I am God! (NRSV)
This Psalm is about the fact that it is the power of God that protects us in a world that is teetering on the edge of destruction. It begins with the well know verse “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
It seems that all our worry and fretting about the state of current affairs is not what accomplishes God’s work in our world. It is God who accomplishes God’s work. I’m sure that this is not really a surprise to you. But, if it is not a surprise, why is it that you worry and fret so much?
As with many of these devotions, I find that I am really talking to myself and not to you. I’m glad you are “listening”, and I hope they are meaningful for you as well but, again, I find myself reminding myself about God’s word. Linda is always asking me why I worry so much about the future. She is always reminding me that either a certain thing will happen, or it won’t. She is, of course, right. I tell her that if I don’t worry about it, it will certainly all fall apart. I am, of course, wrong.
Be still and know that God is God and that you are not. These are the words I often need to hear as I scurry around worrying about things over which I have no control. These are the words I need to hear as I make plans for the disasters that never happen. These are the words I need to hear when I give lip service to the first verse of this Psalm; “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” but, really don’t demonstrate my faith by being still and knowing that God has this.
As we leave behind a very disappointing 2020 and head into the new year, my prayer for me and, perhaps for you, is that we leave the worry behind. I pray that we believe with our whole heart that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. And that we "still" our worried spirits and know that God is God!
Pray with me:
My Refuge and my Strength in times of trouble and fear. Calm me in the midst of the chaos of this broken world and grant me the peace that truly comes in being still and knowing that you are God. AMEN.
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