Be Still

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Be still.  For me, this is hard.  It is hard to not over analyze everything and want to jump in to try to resolve issues or figure out a plan for what is next or whatever needs to be done.  God says, “Be still.” 

This week, as some friends had to figure out details for a funeral, I felt helpless.  I wanted to help heal their hurt, comfort them during this time.  However, I couldn’t do much but pray.  While prayer is certainly enough, sometimes it just doesn’t feel like it.  I wasn’t doing so well at being still.

In another situation this week, I struggled to be still and trust that the Lord was at work.  This was an instance that impacts my future and I just wanted to be as in control as I could be.  Yet, it wasn’t a situation that I could control.  I needed to simply be still and wait on the Lord to direct me. 

In some ways, this makes me wonder if God looks down on us, as I do my son, simply thinking, let me be the parent.  I’ll take care of you. 

Today, I want to encourage you to simply be still.  Be still and know that He is God and he will be exalted amount the nations and in the earth.   

Including You

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

You ever had a day where you just were not feeling the spirit?  I have had some days where writing a devotion was work and not inspiring.  The words were not there and the spirit was not in me.  I focused on God’s words, and tried to make sense of it.  However, something just was missing.  Nonetheless, I willed myself to figure out what to say, and then put it all together.  As I hit the ‘send’ button, I prayed, “God, I am not sure if what I wrote was your intent, but I pray that it is your words that can help someone.”  Low and behold, a person wrote me back saying, “Thank you, Kent!  That is just what I needed to hear.”  At that moment, I felt the spirit in me come alive, and this feeling of humility came over as the encouragement motivated me throughout the day.  None of this would have happened if that one person had not said to me a simple ‘Thank you’ note. 

We should never underestimate the power of our words to positively impact others. The words of Paul in today’s verses is a simple but powerful reminder.  First, it reminds us that there was a choice.  God, who is ever righteous, could have chosen to write us off for our sinful ways.  However, He chose to send His son instead so that we can be saved.  Second, it gives us hope saying even should tomorrow be our last day that we will have our day with Christ, and we will live with Him not for a day or a year but forever.  Thus, we should be already be filled with joy knowing this will happen.  Understanding this, Paul says we being already encouraged are to remind others so as to encourage and build them up.  It does not say to question, reject, or criticize.  We tend to fall to the latter because that is always the most noticeable and easiest to point out.  We can always find fault in something.  However, Paul says to look toward the positive for as I have found, just one positive mention can awaken the Spirit that dwells within us and can make someone whose lost hope inspired and make a person who is empty whole again.

We are not made to live this life alone.  While people may fail us, God never fails, and in Paul’s words, encouraging and building each other up can strengthen us for as David said:

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint. (Psalm 40:30)

So if you are not feeling encourage, encourage others because in it, you yourself may find encouragement.  How can you look to build someone up today?  Who can you partner with that can be a source of encouragement when you are lost?  My prayer is that we fight through our circumstances to encourage others with the hope that they are not only encouraged but also be a source of encouragement for others . . .  including you.  Amen.

Tues Devo: Can I reboot?

Hello,

I remember a long time ago when I started working for this company in product support. The dream call was where a simple reboot of the machine fixed the issue. I was thinking the other day about some things in my walk with God that I was trying to “reboot”. These are things that I have either fallen out of the habit of doing, or am not doing with the right energy or focus. I didn’t feel like I was getting the results I wanted. Then the obvious hit me (sorry if this feels basic) – the reboot is not about pushing a button, it is about what happens behind the button.

You see, behind the scenes when you push that reboot button there are many things that happen.

• ·         Things stop
• ·         Things start – but in sequence
• ·         Unwanted things do not start again

So – if you are looking for a reboot in any area of your walk with Christ, I encourage you to look at this pattern:

• ·         Take a breath
• ·         Kick-start what you want to put an emphasis on
• ·         Put a guard in place to watch out for things that have gotten in the way before, leading to needing this reboot.

Perfect? No – no formula is with God, because this is about love, effort and focus….but hopefully it can help put your mindset in a good spot.

Some encouragement for you if you feel things are not quite going the way they should in your walk with Christ, and you need some areas of reboot:

Galatians 6:9-10 “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (NASB)

2 Thessalonians 3:13 “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” (NASB)

Hebrews 3:12-13 “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ” (NASB)

Psalm 141:3-4 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.” (NASB)

Will Hill