Lord can you hear me?
Hey Lord, are you there? Sometimes it feels as if I am shouting into a cave only to hear myself answer back. I am going from one class to the next, running from one job to the next, preparing for one thing to next..juggling life. The noise of life can be so loud that I can miss the voice of the Lord telling me to BE STILL, be still and know that I am God.
In Psalms 46 it talks of mountains shaking, troubled waters but in the midst of it all not to fear (Psalms 46: 2) and to be still. Psalm 46:10 " Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth."
Be still...What does it mean to be still? When you search for be still online these are a few definitions that show up: " to be freed from noise or turbulence" and "uttering no sound".
Maybe being still is listening, giving the same amount of time talking to God to stop and listen for His voice. Sometimes we can talk so much and the Lord is saying "Hey you! are you going to stop and listen to me? Don't you think I know best for you. Why are you trying to handle it all? I want you to cast your cares on me." In 1 Peter 5:6 it talks about humbling yourself so that the Lord can use you at the right time then it says (verse 7) "Casting all your cares [anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]." Wow! let's look at this word "Cast" according to the dictionary cast means "to throw something (forcefully) in a specified direction". The Lord wants us to throw, hurl, launch (I think you get the point) all of our worries/concerns His direction because, you know what, He can handle it and doesn't want you to try to take it on yourself! Why does He do this? It's simple because He cares and loves you.
Now maybe being still is waiting... Oh man that can be a tough one! Sometimes life is crazy and is throwing everything it has your way to knock you down. I find myself saying um Lord its me again, do you see whats going on? Are you listening to me? Can you help me out here? And the Lord says "Wait. Wait because I know what is best. Wait because I have a plan. Wait, and continue to trust Me". We aren't promised things will be easy, we are actually told there will be tribulation and suffering but not to lose hope because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Today, this week, life in general has been pretty challenging and just when I think everything is going down hill the Lord let me hear this song by Shane and Shane called Psalm 13. This is basically a prayer for help, saying "Lord have you forgotten? Will the sorrow end? How long will enemies rejoice over me? Give life to me again." The great part is that it doesn't end there! its says BUT "I will continue to trust, rely, and be confident in your faithfulness and lovingkindness. Rejoicing in Your salvation and I will continue to sing because you are good to me!". Wow! I don't know about you but this hit home for me! I had to stop and thank the Lord because even when life is tough and I sometimes feel like whining , He is always good!!
Psalm 13:1-6
"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart day after day?
How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of
death,
And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your
Lovingkindness and faithfulness;
My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation
I will sing to the LORD,
Because he has dealt bountifully with me."
Lord thank-you for another day, another breath! Help me to listen and wait for you Lord. I don't want to make one move without your hand over it all. Jesus use me the way you see fit. Help me to put aside my will and do the will of You Father. Thank you for keeping me and reminding me of Your mercies. Give me ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to follow.
In Jesus' name_AMEN
Shane & Shane Psalm 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ-z5TZABB8
If you want me to by Ginny Owens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYRc7LtvUA