Friday, March 20, 2009

Quiet!!

How ironic is it that the Bible clearly tells us "Be Still and know that I am God" (psalm 46:10) and the world that we live in is filled with things that distract us by the minute? Why is it so hard to be still? What is it that keeps us from the quiet? I have recognized that even in the "quiet" moments where there is no sound, there are distractions that flood my mind. In fact, even as I type this in the quiet space of my office I have been distracted by the buzz of my cell phone vibrating on the desk from an incoming call that I "had to take", another buzz from a Facebook post that I "needed to look at", the office phone ringing which I actually did need to answer so I could buzz someone in downstairs and the ringing sound of my computer telling me I have a new email. Literally this was all in a five minute period. And we wonder why it is hard to be still and know that He is God. Often I invite "noise" in my life more than I invite God in on a daily basis.

To know that He is God is to be reminded of who He is and to know, believe and understand His goodness, love, grace, mercy, compassion and endless blessing in our lives. If I could just be still long enough to ponder these truths maybe life wouldn't be so stressful. Maybe anxiety and worry would wash away as the truth of His presence in my life washes over me, giving me the peace He promised.

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us "The Lord's lovingkindesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." He is faithful and He is true to His word. Too often we overlook His faithfulness and focus on the things that we don't have. Much of the time what we don't have, we don't need and what we do have, we overlook as His blessing. As the verses above state, His lovingkindness Never ceases and His compassion Never fails, they are new every morning. He gives us enough for today.

He promises to give us enough for today and my hope and prayer is that I can learn to be quiet and slow down enough to recognize His provision and simply rest in that. Tomorrow will bring a new set of needs, concerns etc. and along with that will come a new dose of His provision, which is..."new every morning" great is His faithfulness!