In Brennan Manning’s new book, The Furious Longing of God, he quotes part of Psalm 46:10; “Be still, and know that I am God”.
Does that not speak volumes? I’ll not mess it up by adding to it.
November 22, 2009 by Mike
In Brennan Manning’s new book, The Furious Longing of God, he quotes part of Psalm 46:10; “Be still, and know that I am God”.
Does that not speak volumes? I’ll not mess it up by adding to it.
Yes, Mike….. And when that “being still” is thought about with the rest of Psalm 46, we are forced to realize that we are to “let go” and relax in God’s care during all sorts of tumultuous events going on around us. We have good reason to rest with the One who can be trusted.
A long time favorite hymn of mine is “Be Still, My Soul” by Catharina van Schlegel (1752) — translated by Jane Borthwick in 1855 — and sung to the tune of “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius. Am not sure, but that might be found at cyberhymnal dot com.
Margaret
Mike,
That may be one of the most challenging statements in the Bible in the midst of our noisy chaotic frenzied world. Perhaps that is one reason the church is where it is at today….
Brian
awesome . . . that verse often comes to mind as I have been practicing being still and listening in His presence. I’ve been taking 30 minutes after my quiet time just to be still and listen and it has been tremendous. This is a verse that many need to take to heart these days as all the noise of our lives is draining our spirits.
Rachel
http://stirringthedeep.com
Would it be fair to say, ‘To the extent we are still, we will know’?
Mike ,
Perhaps it would be better to say to the extant that we listen, we will know.
“Be still and know that I am God” is the beginning for those of us who have been so steeped in our culture that we have never stopped, never listened. He is telling us that we cannot “figure Him out”, He must open our hearts and minds to His revealing Himself to us.
As He reveals Himself to you, many things will open up for you, healing for traumas you thought you would just have to live with. Gifts, talents which you never thought to utilize, things which He has given you which you never understood the significance of.
To truly be still you must walk away from your self confidence, abandon your self sufficiency and totally trust in Him.
Apart from Him we are hopelessly flawed, and He is the only one who can heal us. Then as we listen and walk with Him, He will guide us, and lead us into the life He died to give us. He will shape us into in His image.
But, for any of this to happen we must shut up, lay aside any pretensions (be still), and listen to Him.
“To truly be still you must walk away from your self confidence, abandon your self sufficiency and totally trust in Him.”
We think a lot a like. As far as the ‘listening’ and the ‘being still’, I think they go hand in hand. It is a ‘bringing to a halt’ of our own thoughts, and stopping to listen to His.
PS Your ‘Nutshell’ post was cool. I’m sure I’ll read that another time or two.
Thanks for stopping by.
Mike
Thanks for the kind words Mike. I can see from the post that you are striving to say more with less. That is a lesson I have yet to put to use, but I think it is a lesson He is teaching me too. Bless you.
Nathan
I do at least try; easier sometimes than others.