52 Weeks of ForwardSample

Take A Deep Breath

By Pastor DJ Oquist

"He says, "Be still, and know that I am God.”' Psalm 46:10A (NIV)

Have you ever experienced a moment of utter stillness? Perhaps it was while you were alone, out in the sanctuary of nature. All of a sudden, everything seems to drop away, and you find yourself in an atmosphere of total serenity. Silence can be powerful; the inner calm and quiet of a heart stilled by the presence of Almighty God are much more so.

I love to get things done. At the end of a long day, I can go home feeling good if I have accomplished all the items on my to-do list. Whether or not you relate to this, I believe we all want to feel there’s forward movement in our lives—that we are making a difference each day. And nothing is wrong with feeling accomplished! It only becomes a problem if it competes with what our greatest priority should be: spending time with God.

This verse is God responding to the psalmist as he faces an overwhelming circumstance revealed in the previous verses. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble; therefore, we will not fear.” As he continues to write, you can sense the emotion she has been feeling about his next challenge. In response, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I wonder how many of us simply miss what God is doing because we are moving too fast to perceive it. Amid everything going on in our lives, we know the most important thing is God. Yet how often do we miss what He is doing because we are too focused on what we are doing? The first time we ever came to God, it was that we might surrender our lives to Him. So why can’t we take a moment to submit our most significant obstacles to Him as well? This only happens as we intentionally pause to focus on Him.

MOVING FORWARD

Ask God to reveal things in your life that distract you from Him, and adjust how you spend your time. Then, take a deep breath. Whatever you are facing, pause, and surrender it to God.