Be Still, Stand Firm

When the Israelites had their backs to the Red Sea and the armies of Pharaoh bearing down upon them, Moses told them to not be afraid, to stand firm, to be still. How many times in life would that approach calm and strengthen me during a time of strife or challenging circumstances if I would remember to have faith and simply be still? Worry and fear are antithetical to the peace of faith. It is up to me to choose which I want in my day, fear or faith. Today I will practice choosing faith.

When we face times of change in life, it's easy to be fearful. Change is unsettling, but it doesn't have to be a negative time. When change comes in life, look to the One who is always constant and unchanging. When change comes, I am going to remember to "not be afraid, stand firm, be still." When we are still we can see God's hand working in our lives. When the tempest hits, that is the time to seek silent meditation and prayer.

Today I will set aside a time to meditate and simply be still. I do not know how to meditate, but I will practice!

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” -Psalm 46:10, NIV

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” -Exodus 14:13-14, New Women's Devotional Bible

Your gift from Jesus

God loved the world so much he gave his son so that all who would believe may have eternal life. Jesus loved us so much he gave us his peace which surpasses all understanding and life full of abundance.

I have been thinking about the word "habitation" recently and the concept of fully inhabiting my life. I have been worrying about several things. I have been walking through a period of grief. My house has been cluttered with so many physical things from the past just as my heart and mind has been cluttered with so many thoughts and emotions from my past. This year I am going to work on accepting God's gift of salvation fully in my mind and heart and also at accepting Jesus' gifts of peace which surpasses all my understanding. I want to live abundantly and to fully inhabit my life and home.

I am going to learn to "let go and let God" work in my day this day and each day forward. Holding on to things from the past has weighted me down. I will trust God's care for me.

Thank you Lord for loving me so much, beyond what I can comprehend. I love you Lord!

John 14:27 (NLB)

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Luke 10:41-42 (NRSV)

But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

Matthew 6:26-30 (NRSV)

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

He carried me on his shoulders

Thought for the day: "There is a good reason God calls his people sheep. Sometimes they act baa-aaa-ad and wonder away from the paths he has mapped out for them. A good shepherd will relentlessly search for a wayward sheep. Sometimes, if the sheep refuses to follow his master, the shepherd takes drastic action. The shepherd breaks the sheep's leg, places it upon his shoulders, and carries the sheep until it learns total dependence. This is tough love - the shepherd breaks the sheep to make sure it will always follow the shepherd." - New Women's Devotional Bible

This sounds strong-handed, but the shepherd knows if the sheep wanders on it's own, it will be devoured by wild animals. Isaiah 53:6 - "We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

God's love holds us close. He carries us on his shoulders when we fall. He forgives, redeems, and protects. And he takes our iniquities to the cross. This is God's perfect love. Since our Lord loves and forgives us, so should we forgive each other. Christians are too quick to banish as lost those that have stumbled but God bears them up and restores them.

Take the pledge! A prayer a day in 2012

God only knows what would happen if you prayed! Prayer changes you for good. Start small. Tiny prayers pack power because you are connecting with our unlimited Heavenly Father. The style of your prayer is not the most important thing. If you like formal prayers, find one you like and start there, maybe the Lord's Prayer. Or if you want to get personal, try simple conversation with God, like you would talk to your best friend. One prayer a day for 2012, unimaginable changes! Only God knows what can happen this year and he loves to talk with you in prayer.

A Tiny Prayer

The Lord's Prayer

Make it personal:

My Father, who is in heaven,
I respect and revere your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give me this day my daily bread.
And forgive me my trespasses,
as I forgive those who trespass against me.
And lead me not into temptation,
but deliver me from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen