BE STILL AND KNOW

“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  

This past month I had the rare opportunity to visit family in Alabama. I had one connecting flight in Atlanta and barely any time to get from one plane to the next. As I was rushing through the terminals, I noticed something ordinary, but all at the same time so profound. Just about every single person who wasn’t up and walking was looking down at their phone. You might be thinking to yourself, “So what is so profound about that?”

It seems to me that anyone rarely stops anymore and quiets themselves. All too often when we have nothing better to do, we swipe open our phone and immediately start scrolling through Snapchat, seeing what Netflix show just came out, or just mindlessly respond to the texts we missed.

In Psalm 46, the Sons of Korah talk about how God is the refuge, strength, and help of Israel and also the conqueror of all the nations.  

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.”—Psalm 46:1–2

If we turn back to 1 Kings, we are introduced to a frustrated prophet named Elijah. God speaks to him in one of the most amazing ways in Scripture. As Elijah hides himself inside a cave, God allows him the opportunity to firsthand encounter his glory. As God passes by three things happen. 

“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.”—1 Kings 19:11–12

God tore through the mountain in a wind first, shook its foundation with an earthquake second, and scorched the rocks in a blazing fire. But God was not in these awesome things . . .

“And after the fire a still small voice.”—1 Kings 19:12

All of this should point us to a very obvious conclusion: Take time to be still. Turn off the phone, pull out the Airpods, and turn off the T.V. Get alone with God and listen to what He will tell you.   

DIG: Why do you think God chooses to speak sometimes in a small voice? 

DISCOVER: What is God challenging you to silence to hear His voice?

DISPLAY: Take 10 minutes to be still every morning or evening before the Lord this week and then spend some time in the Word. Notice the difference it makes and write down what God speaks to you.