Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Psalms 37:4-7 (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 (NIV)
We live in a noisy world full of distractions. Bells, whistles, dings and dongs all clamoring for our attention – not to mention family, friends and work. We can be so busy mechanically doing the next thing yet so empty, right? We do not rest well. Silence and stillness are often a rarity albeit a necessity for our soul’s heath. It is God Who is the restorer of our souls, allowing us to breathe. He is the living water filling our empty cups. Our self-awareness keeps us undone.
Hurry and busy can be our soul’s great enemies. In our vanity and pride we somehow think we are in control while control is simply an illusion. Working as unto the Lord is important yet constant doing can wipe out our simply being with Him. Our time with the Lord precedes productive doing as we go forth in His will and His way and His power. He is our great Shepherd. We have a desperate need for God (whether we realize it or not) as “we shall not want” with Him. We are no longer needy when our cups are filled with Living Water. We must learn to make time to cancel the noise around us, seeking to go off to a quiet place even if it is a car or a closet! If Susanna Wesley – mother of nineteen children including John and Charles – could pray for each child daily by flipping her large skirt up over her head to be alone, I believe each of us can find a way!
It is often hard to hear Him (if not impossible) with all the interruptions daily bombarding us. Jesus was always going away to a quiet place to pray – to simply be with His Father - often very early in the morning while it was still dark. How much more so should we? He is the Helper of the helpless. We must learn to abide in the Restorer of our souls, canceling the noise to hear “His still small voice”. With Him we can catch our breath and simply be.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalms 23:1-6 (NIV)