Psalm 46 - "Still"

Sometimes the Lord takes me so far out of my comfort zone but I know when He does it's a good thing.  I was signed up to sing the special yesterday and during my practice time Thursday the Lord told me I wasn't singing but rather would share something.  I must admit I was disappointed because I already had planned what I was going to say about the song.  It was one I sang to Lenore in her final hours.  The key to what I just said was "I"....I hadn't asked the Lord what He wanted but instead planned what I wanted.  But when I asked Him what I would share He told me, "Be still and I wait.  I will give it to you."  Once again, no problem.  It was Thursday so I had a couple days.  Sunday morning I was still waiting with no answer yet.  I shared with Doc about it and he encouraged me to continue to wait and not manipulate the situation with what I thought I should say.  I was blessed with the opportunity to sing with the Praise Team which was no coincidence.  Then the song "Still" was in the set.  Once again, no coincidence.  There have been so many people in the church going through storms with illnesses, surgeries, death of loved ones, problems in family relationships, etc.  I have been one of them with Doc's two knee surgeries and my Daddy's death.  But even though I've been in this storm I have been at peace.  That peace has come from living in the Lord's Presence.  I have found rest in Him.  I have found the power to carry on through tough days through Him.  It has come through trusting Him and being "still".  I can honestly say, "I will soar with You above the storm; Father You are king over the flood; I will be still, know You are God."  Woo hoo!  

I looked up the dictionary meaning of the word "still" and found...

still

¹  [stil] 

adjective, still·er, still·est.

1.

remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary: to standstill.

2.

free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent: to keepstill about a matter.

3.

subdued or low in sound; hushed: a still, small voice.

4.

free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm:the still air.

5.

without waves or perceptible current; not flowing, as water.

A key to being "still" in the Lord is to be silent.  If we aren't silent, we can't hear what He has to say to us.  Another key is to be motionless.  This is a hard one because of the busyness of life.  But if we aren't motionless we will miss what He has in store for us.  I love the part of the definition that is "...free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm..."  That's exactly how I feel in His Presence.  Even when there is turmoil going on in life I am at peace because He has given me exactly what I need.  Psalm 46 reminds us that the Lord is always here for us, no matter what our circumstances are.

Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields  with fire.
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.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

I believe He will be exalted as I live in His Presence.  People will see my peace and I pray will want the same.  Yesterday's sermon about being weird vs. normal made me realize just how much living in His Presence has changed my life.  I can relate to what Doc was saying about wanting to be normal growing up.  That was me too.  I wanted to be skinny so I would be normal.  I wanted my family to have more money so I would be normal.  Now I realize I don't want to be like everyone else.  I just want to be weird so people will wonder why I am the way I am.  LOL  

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the lesson on waiting and being still.  Thank You for stopping me from doing what I planned and instead giving me Your Words to say.  As I walked up to the stage yesterday, I had no clue on what I would say but I did know You wouldn't fail me.  Lord, I pray that someone in the sanctuary yesterday who heard Your Words through me will make an effort to live in Your Presence.  I pray they will have the desire to be "still" in You.  Father, if there is someone who heard those Words who needs encouraged, please put them in my path and open my eyes to them.  Thank You Lord for being My Presence!  Amen.