Be Still and Know…
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Some days, the invitation to be still in God’s presence feels comfortable and refreshing, like an empty chair on a gorgeous beach. That’s when I love to be still!
Others, if feels unnatural and challenging, like holding a plank. I’d much rather get out of the uncomfortable position and go somewhere, anywhere.
The recent days of forced stillness have been a mixture of the two.
Psalm 46 reminds us that no matter what happens—even if the mountains fall into the seas and the entire earth gives way, even if nations are in an uproar and kingdoms fall—the Lord almighty is with us. In these circumstances that tempt us to worry, to frantically try to fix something, to maybe even hoard toilet paper, He is our fortress. He is our refuge and strength.
And it is in that context of chaos that He calls us to be still.
The stillness He calls us to is not purely for stillness’ sake, though. It is in order that we might know that He is God.
Perhaps it can even teach us to know what that means at a new and deeper level.
But notice that Psalm 46:10 is all written as one long sentence. It is not two separate thoughts, as I’ve often read it. It says that if we focus upon God during the most frantic and fearful times, we will know God AND He will be exalted among the nations!
Friends, this is not the time to let our gaze drift from our Savior. We are not to let fear of Covid-19 grip our hearts. We are not to let our hope be in a government or the CDC. We are not to panic over our next meal or fuss over when our events will finally be rescheduled.
We are to be still, knowing that God is sovereign, praying eagerly for Him to be exalted in all the earth.
I have to confess that not all of my stillness during this quarantine has been spent recognizing that He is God. Much of it has been filled with returning emails, cleaning out drawers, and binging on “Good Bones.” But God has met me in the quiet moments I’ve surrendered to Him, and He has, indeed, reminded me that He is God.
Today, I ask you to join me in finding stillness before our God. Let’s plead for Him to teach us in and through this global challenge. Together, let’s pray a global revival will result. Perhaps it will start in us.
This month, as you remember The Boaz Project in prayer, please:
Thank God for the protection He has given our homes. To date, none of the children we serve in Russia, India, or Kenya have contracted Corona, nor have their caregivers.
Ask the Lord to continue to provide the funding necessary to care for the children we serve each month.
Petition the Almighty on behalf of our homes for the availability not only of hand sanitizer and Corona-related supplies, but also daily necessities like food, as many markets have been shut down, making food and other necessities scarce and expensive.
Request that the groundbreaking for our new three-story apartment building intended to provide for orphans and their caregivers in Kenya still take place this month.
Believing in miracles,
April Jurgensen
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