Just Be 30-Day Challenge

Just BE Still – Day 22

Webster says ‘Still’ means remaining in place or at rest; motionless; free from sound or noise; to be silent

Synonyms: calm, motionless, quiet, peaceful, subdued, silent, at rest or peace; pause

GOD says in Psalm 46:10a, ‘Be still (or cease striving, NASB), and know that I am God (NIV).’
I have lived a driven life. When I was growing up, I was driven to excel in all my academics and activities because I so badly wanted to please my dad. I wanted him to accept me. It was years later, and much needless effort trying to get his attention, to realize that he loved me all along. Then I was driven to be the best at whatever; even if that meant the best loser, I was going to out-do everyone. Then, putting back the pieces of those failed relationships with those I had let down, drove me to please anyone no matter what the cost. Ambition drove me, as did success, as did being available to anyone at all times. In other words, to be the best juggler of people’s feelings was a vehicle I careened down a thoughtless road. I did so for the right reasons but my good intentions played wrongly with people’s hearts.
Self-importance is a thing. It is real. The static of it drowns out all other voices but our own, including that of the Lord’s. I felt like I was running, constantly. Like the proverbial hamster on an endless wheel, round and round, never getting anywhere and not ever being caught up, catching myself coming and going, chasing my tail, everywhere I go, there I am.
Have you ever been there? On the corner of Success and Failure and unsure what address is correct? You’re at the stop sign, holding your breath, wishing your navigation system would catch up with itself and tell you if you’re going straight or making a turn because that one nasally, exhausting voice that you have had to stop and listen to will tell you everything you need to know about what comes next.
Or sometimes God simply stops you.
It seemed there came a season this past year when the world stopped. In some manners, it is still stopped. And I wonder if the Lord allowed that so we could all step out of the hamster wheels we found ourselves on, so we could reevaluate some stuff. Maybe we did have to pull over at an address on Failure Lane, but maybe during the time spent at that address, we got some much-needed rest from the drive. Or perhaps we drove on down Success Parkway, but it didn’t hold the appeal that once we clammered for, so we decided to keep on traveling until we discovered Peace Place where others around us were settling in to during Stay-in-Place and Safer-at-Home orders.
Jesus stopped me. A while back. He took just about everything away so I had to cease. I was too prideful, too self-important, and, well, too busy, to even pause to look around or notice that everything was crumbling around me. He got me on the corner of Collapse and Decline, both were dead-end streets. He took my breath away by what He slowly began revealing. But really what it came down to is still an ordinance to me today, ‘Cease striving; be still. And then you will know that I am God.’ I hope it always will be tattoed on my heart now for easy remembrance.

I pray just about everyday that He will help me fix my focus on His face and that He will keep my heart upon its knees. What is your prayer when you are feeling harried and hurried and motion-sensored? Perhaps today you too can just give it up for one moment and say, ‘Lord, still me so that I can cease long enough to know you are God.’

Day 22 Challenge: Find a moment to be still before the Lord today.