In other parts of the world, today is the day their house gets bombed, their father gets executed or their child succumbs to disease. Today might also bring joy as a village welcomes the message of salvation as the good news of the Gospel is heard.
So what does this all mean for my ordinary American
life? How can I care without becoming
consumed? There are nations at war,
civil unrest at home, and evil abounding globally--but I still need to run to
Costco to fill up my car with gas. How
do I live? How do I pray? How do I make a difference?
I think it has to start, very simply, with the scripture “Be
still, and know that I am God.” As I
looked up the reference, I was surprise to read the entire psalm and hear many
of the same themes of today, sung by the words of the Psalmist thousands of
years ago:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though
the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its
waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the
city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God
will help her at break of day. Nations
are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of
Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the
works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be
exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty
is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46
In light of this passage, my outlook for this week has a
distinctive, new focus.
1.
I can pray for peace but don’t need to be in
fear of war. God is my shelter. War may
be raging around us, but He can make them cease.
2.
I can exalt (praise) God and teach my children
to do the same.
3.
I can look for opportunities to show the promise of peace to others who don’t
have it.
Some may view this approach as too “simple”. However, I know that there is no way for me to be still before God if I continue to strive for _______ (fill in the blank) with my own strength and power. I absolutely want to be moved by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience in whatever area He calls me to. That might be a time of intense prayer. It might be ministry to a hurting friend. It might be courtesy and respect to the rude clerk at the counter. Sure, I have things I want to accomplish this week—they may even be good things. But, they might not be God things. After all, I can’t hear His voice if I’m busy talking about my own personal agenda.
Lord, help me to be keenly aware of every area you want me to engage in this week. Help me pray according to your will. Let my heartbeat mimic your own. Let me not be burdened with anyone’s projection of what they think I should be doing. Instead, let me simply rest in you, being obedient to your voice and call. Amen
Photo by Lhgergo
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