Take time to be still and know God

Every night before we go to bed, we take the dog outside. That’s the time that sounds of the night are different.

There is a certain distinct harmony during the nighttime that I do not hear during the day. Sounds oblivious to us during the day come through clear at night.

On many nights, we can hear dogs yelping in the distance. We can hear house doors opening and train noises from the train yard over four miles away. Sometimes we can hear a distant conversation that has traveled across the street.

I don’t hear those things during the day, and I know that it is because I am so busy. Errands cause me to place myself under an urgency to meet deadlines of the day. With decisions pending, meetings to make, activities planned, meals to cook, bills to pay, and housework to complete, I scurry around and find it hard to unwind and take a minute to focus on any one situation for any length of time.

That is when I notice that I am so busy that I am just not quiet enough to listen to God.

What do the Biblical characters Moses, Samuel, David, Habakkuk, and Andrew have in common? They were all “quiet” enough in their daily lives to get direction from God. They were all still before God and reaped spiritual benefits from that quietness before God.

God said to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Being still and just listening has great benefits.

Moses is an example to me. Moses listened after he noticed the burning bush and responded to God’s call in his life. Moses’ stillness showed me that I must be still to recognize God’s calling on my life.

It was the same with Samuel. He heard God’s voice, thought it was Eli until Eli told him to lay still and listen to God.

Being still before God helps us to see our sin. David was quiet long enough to listen to Nathan’s story and as a result, David was convicted of his wrongdoing and repented.

Habakkuk was still and listened with his heart and saw the hurting and hungry among his countrymen. His stillness caused him to recognize the needs of the masses. Be still before God to recognize those in our community who are in need.

Andrew was still long enough to notice in the crowd a little boy with five loaves and two fishes. He was the most unlikely person for Andrew to focus his attention on. But he told Jesus about the little boy’s lunch and Jesus used that to feed the entire crowd on the hillside that day. Andrew was still long enough to see that God can use anyone for his glory.

The Bible has much to say about being still before God.

We should be still and wait patiently. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)

We should be still and not worry. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Being still before God focuses our hope on him. “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5)

Being still and trusting God leads to wholeness. “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’” (Isaiah 30:15)

I am so thankful that years ago I was still and listened and felt the Lord tugging at my heart. That is when I wanted to give my heart to Jesus. When I contemplate on his goodness, I realize that he knows more about me than I could ever know about myself. In filling my life with everyday things, I find that most of the time I miss the one activity that would be the most helpful for my total well-being — stillness before God. With all the wonderful life that I have, it is in knowing God and listening to him that enhances the quality of my life. In that way, I find real peace and purpose for each day.

Judy Brandon writes about faith for The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact her at: [email protected]