What does it mean… to be ‘Still?’ Is it possible to be ‘Still’ in the hectic world we live in…? Many will say… that there are ‘not’ enough hours in the day, to accomplish what we must. All of us lead hurried lives, but we always somehow find time to relax. Even if it is… in front of the “Mind – Less Box – the TV!” Somehow turning off the pressures of life, even by escapism; gives us a respite. Or so we think…?
*** (Psalms 46:10-11) Be “STILL”, and know that I am God! I will be praised among the nations, I will be praised in the earth.
(Psalms 46:11) Jehovah of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Did you know… that the word, “Selah”… is a Rest or Pause? Each time in the Psalms, when you see the word, ‘Selah’ it is a Pause or Rest… from the song. The book of Psalms, the hymnbook of Israel, God’s chosen people; were even given; the command… ‘to rest’… even in their songs of worship. The thought was ‘to meditate’ on what was said. How many times, when you read the scriptures, do you pause at a particular verse and think about what you read? Or do you just read the Holy Scriptures as it were a novel or other reading material…?
*** (Luke 24:44-45) And He [Jesus] said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms about Me.
(Luke 24:45) And He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures.
Do you ever think… about the Psalms as a book of doctrine? Christ Jesus did, as He used it along with the Law and the Prophets. There are many prophetic verses that speak about the “Christ – Messiah” in the Psalms. Especially about His suffering and His rule and reign on the earth in the Last Days. You may take your… “Stillness”… knowing that ‘all things’… will be accomplished… according to the Scriptures. In that; there is great rest… for those that are truly His children. [Romans 8:9]
*** (Isaiah 26:3-4) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You.
(Isaiah 26:4) Trust in Jehovah forever; for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
Just how do we… “Still”… ourselves…? Does it happen automatically or is there some effort required on my part? Do make time each day… to meet with Jesus… in His Word? Or is your day so busy, that you cannot… [did not]… make the time? Since I was a new believer, I have practiced… … almost every day. Have you looked at that ‘verse’ and wondered what Jesus did every day…? May I ask you to look at it and then roll over in your… ‘mind and heart’… what example He set for us?
*** (Mark 1:35) And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
*** (Luke 12:34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
*** (John 8:29) And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things which please Him.
Christ Jesus… had unbelievable busy days, ministering to all the people and still trying to instruct His Apostles and other ancillary believers. The ‘Seventy’ others… that He sent out… Luke 10:1… were there also. His stillness and peace… in the turmoil of daily living and the ministry to fulfill… “All”… that the Father had given Him, was beyond human comprehension. Yet His… “Stillness”… in the press of life; is also available to us, His children – If – we will only avail ourselves to it.
*** (2Chronicles 12:14) And he did the evil because he = did not prepare = his heart to seek Jehovah.
*** (Ezra 7:10) For Ezra had = prepared his heart = to seek the Law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach statutes and judgments in Israel.
How many of us… “Prepare Our Hearts”… before Bible reading and study… before Church services… before Worship… before Prayer…? Did you know that you cannot prepare your heart… without first being… “Still?” Do you realize that Christ Jesus gave us a word picture… of how to do that? The Holy Scriptures have and contain ‘all’ we need to… properly serve God and obey His Word. There are… “True Riches”… found hidden in the pages of your Bible… if you will only look from IT!
*** (Luke 16:11) Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you?
*** (Matthew 6:6) But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.
*** (Psalms 25:14) The secret of Jehovah is with those who fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.
*** (Deuteronomy 29:29) The secret things belong to Jehovah our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our sons forever, so that we may do all the words of this Law.
Truly in the “Stillness”… that we physically and mentally… ‘remove ourselves’… we have that ability to meet with “The Father – Abba [Daddy]”, just as Jesus did daily. The manna that Israel went out to gather… before the sun rose… is the same word picture of Jesus meeting with His Father, early in the morning. It is a… “Choice of the Will”… that we make, consciously and unconsciously… that we must make. God’s grace is only for ‘one day’ at a time; we do not get ‘Tomorrows Grace’… Today.
*** (Exodus 16:21) And they gathered it every morning, each man according to his eating. And when the sun became hot, it melted.
*** (John 6:31-to-35) Our fathers ate the manna in the desert, as it is written, "He gave them bread from Heaven to eat."
(John 6:32) Then Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses did not give you that bread from Heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from Heaven.
(John 6:33) For the bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.
(John 6:34) Then they said to him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
(John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst.
Will you make time… to meet with Jesus in His Word… each day? Each of us has been given… “1440 – minutes”… each day. How we spend that time is up to us. We choose how we spend our time… don’t we? We work, we travel, we sleep, we… have our - ‘our time’ - each and every day. You chose how, when and where you spend those “Minutes!” Often I will not turn on the TV till I have accomplished my planned goals. Meeting with Jesus in His Word… is my main goal. Anytime in your life… you alone… may set new goals and then practice them; into your life.
*** (2Corinthians 4:16) For this cause we do not faint; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is being renewed = day by day.
*** (1Corinthians 9:25-26-27) Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that dies, but we to win one that never dies.
(1Cor 9:26) That is the way I run, with a clear goal in mind. That is the way I box, not like someone punching the air.
(1Cor 9:27) No, I keep on beating my body = and making it my slave = so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified.
*** (2Samuel 24:24-25) And the king said to Araunah, No, but I will surely buy from you at a price. And I = will not = offer burnt offerings = to Jehovah my God = of that which costs me nothing. = And David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
(2Sam 24:25) And David built there an altar to Jehovah, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And Jehovah was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
*** (1Kings 19:11-12-13) And He said, Go forth and stand on the mountain before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before Jehovah. = But Jehovah was not in the wind. And after the wind was an earthquake, = but Jehovah was not in the earthquake.
(1Ki 19:12) And after the earthquake was a fire, but Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire was = a still, = small voice.
(1Ki 19:13) And it happened when Elijah = heard, = he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out, and stood at the cave entrance. And behold, a voice came to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
Where does one… go from this point? Perhaps you have never disciplined yourself to spend the early mornings with Jesus in His Word? Someone told me, I am not a morning person. But when they were on “Vacation”… they were up early each morning. You choose the time and the quality of the relationship… you desire with Jesus. His grace is available… if you are willing to meet with Him… in His Word. Your free will… will give you the choice and the responsibility!
*** (1Samuel 3:21) And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh. For Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh = by the Word of Jehovah.
*** (Hebrews 4:14-15-16) Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
(Heb 4:15) For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin.
(Heb 4:16) Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
*****
(Psalms 138:2) I will worship = toward Your holy temple, = and = praise Your Name = for Your loving-kindness = and = for “Your Truth's” sake; = for You [God] = have magnified = Your Word = ‘above all’ = Your Name. = [Psalms 119:18 & 1Samuel 3:21 & Deuteronomy 29:29]
Thank you for Your EAR! [Job 12:11] Roger //Email// atruth459@yahoo.com
Home Page: http://truth459.blogspot.com/
Ende…!
