Tag: exalted

BE STILL

BE STILL

Still can mean calm, quiet, unmoving, or at rest.  There are passages in the Bible that instruct us to ‘be still’ or to ‘be silent.’

This instruction may have several purposes:  1) to require our silence, so that we will focus upon God, alone; 2) to instruct us to be tranquil and at peace; and 3) to direct us to subdue every instinct to God’s will.

Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  (Ps 46:10 ASV)

But the Lord is in his holy temple.  Let all the earth be silent before him.  (Hab 2:20 CEB)

Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.  (Zech 2:13 ESV)

Being still, silent, and at peace will bring about a great ability to focus upon the Lord.  It’s a good time for prayer and thanksgiving, as well as for a reverential form of worship.  Obviously, there’s definitely a time for joyful, loud, expressive worship, too.  But when the Holy Spirit leads us into a still and tranquil time of prayer, we should be sensitive and responsive to that leading.

One form of “being still” is to step away from our busy lives in order to connect with God.  This is a time to stay focused on God’s vision for our lives and to listen for His direction and guidance.  The obvious follow-through is our obedience to what we hear the Lord saying to our hearts.

What is the purpose of stillness?  Being still before the Lord brings us clarity.  It draws us into the moment and gives us time to clear the clutter and clamor out of our minds and hearts.  It helps us to hear God’s voice more accurately. Stilling our hearts before the Lord helps us to stop striving and to surrender our circumstances to the Lord.  In whatever situation you find yourself today, take some time alone with the Lord.

God Will Hasten His Plans

What does the word hasten mean?  It may mean:  hurry, speed, accelerate or be quick.  Considering that God is an eternal being who has no beginning and no end, what does quick look like to Him?

Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.  (Josh 21:45)  This scriptural promise reminds us that each and every one of His words and plans is fulfilled.  Let there be no doubt about that at all.

In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit.  (Isa 27:6 ESV)  We see that this promise has definitely come to pass.  Israel became an independent nation in 1948 and has been one since then.

Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.  (Jer 1:12 KJV)  God will accelerate His plan in certain instances.  Only He can decide what state of affairs demands a rapid response.

The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.  (Isa 60:22 ESV, underscoring added)  Our Redeemer and Lord decides who is exalted and who is not, and He is the master at choosing His perfect timing.  His timing rarely coincides with man’s timing.

For the Lord will execute His Word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.  (Rom 9:28 NASB)  God enacts His Word comprehensively and at a time that is often unexpected by the human being or beings involved.

Being followers of Jesus Christ and children of the Kingdom of God, we can be assured that God’s love and mercy is upon us.  The Bible informs us that ‘God is love.’  (1 Joh 4:8)

If we will cheerfully obey the Lord and submit to His will for us, we can be assured that His plan for us will be far better than any plan that we could imagine for ourselves.  Glory to God!