PSALM 46:10-11 – Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”
THEME OF THE DAY: TO KNOW THE LORD, BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD. Ask any true Christian this question, “What is the chief desire of your heart?” In fact, let’s ask it of ourselves right now, “What is the chief desire of our hearts?” I would hope each of us, including the author of this nugget, would answer with the words of Asaph in the seventy-third Psalm and the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippian believers.
First, Asaph – Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you (Psalm 73:25). This godly man wanted one thing only – God, to know Him, to cherish Him, to enjoy Him. Now, the Apostle Paul. In this area of desire, he is the “New Testament Asaph” – But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:7-10). Like Asaph, Paul wants to know His God, to be close to his God, to behold his God.
So, what about us? Would we be able, by attitude and action, to come alongside Asaph and the Apostle Paul proclaiming, “Yes, brothers! Yes, me too! Me too!” Before we are quick to say that, look deep and long into the practice of our spiritual disciplines to get there. We face tremendous challenges in a fast-paced, technology-distracting culture that pushes animatedly against cultivating the desire and pursuit of Asaph and Paul. But we must face those challenges head on. My next paragraph explains why .
It is impossible to cultivate a deep spiritual relationship of holy affection with the Lord Jesus without being still before Him in prayer and meditation. Regular reading of the Bible isn’t enough. Bible studies aren’t enough. Christian books aren’t enough. Podcasts, attending church, conferences, and concerts won’t be enough either. All are important but cannot replace undisturbed, unhurried, and self-disciplined time of prayer and meditation beholding the Lord in His Word.
Unless we obey today’s scripture command, “Be still and know that I am God”, we will be disobedient and do the opposite – “Be busy and you won’t know I am God” and in doing so, miss some of the chief purposes of our salvation – knowing God, walking with God, loving God, and enjoying God.
PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for not valuing my relationship with You enough to discipline my time and heart.”
QUOTE: “We are as close to the Lord as we desire and true desire always produces self-discipline and self-control.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim