Sugar Fast Day 14
Why is it so hard to be still? One of my favorite verses is Psalm 46:10. Be still and know that I am God.
It is such a calming verse and it brings to my mind a vision of serenity and peace. I can feel myself exhale. But achieving this state of being is not as easy for me as it looks.
In today’s reading of The 40 Day Sugar Fast, Wendy asked what else, now that I am not running to a sugar high for comfort, am I running to instead of running to God? The answer came immediately…my creativity in the form of my new business.
I am NOT a workaholic. I KNOW what that looks like. I live with one. When my work day is over I clock out and come home. I am able to leave whatever work I had for the day in my office and not worry about it until the next morning. But then I realized that perhaps, at times, I am a workaholic. Certainly in the last 4-5 months I have been busy creating and building a company. I’ve written a book, built a website, created graphics and posts for social media, and started a blog. Truth be told, since August my mind is ALWAYS on GO. In some ways I am always working. [Side Note–It’s 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning and here I am writing this post. Sounds like workaholism.]
The American Dream
I recently read an article that suggested the American dream is countercultural to being still before God. We live in a society with marketing messages like, “Just Do It” and “America Runs on Dunkin'”. You get the point. Go, go, go. Do, do, do. Work, work, work. But as Christian believers we KNOW the messages of the world are NOT our truth. Truth in how to live and be comes from God and this truth is ever-preserved in the Bible. So what does God’s Word say about being still?
Wait Patiently
“Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” (Ruth3:18)
This comes from the book of Ruth in which she has asked Boaz to be her kinsman redeemer. Now, she must wait patiently for him to fulfill this obligation.
Be Quiet
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39)
You probably remember this story. Jesus has been teaching all day. That evening He and His disciples get into the boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. There is a terrible storm and the boat is nearly capsized. Although the disciples were terrified, Jesus sleeps. When he is woken up He commands the wind and waves to be still. The Greek word her for “still” is “to muzzle; be silent”. Part of being still before God is just shutting up.
Let Go and Stop Striving
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)
Back to my favorite verse. This is a song of praise. God will protect His people from their enemies so they just need to let go. Surrender their circumstances and stop trying to fix things. God has everything in control.
Conclusion
God’s instructions seem pretty clear. Being still is waiting patiently, keeping quiet and listening for God’s voice, and not striving in my own power to make things happen. I need these reminders everyday.