7 Things - Finding Stillness

• Sometimes we need to be still and watch the Lord fight on our behalf: Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

2Chron. 20:17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you! (NLT)

I admit that this is hard to do – we want to fight for ourselves and vindicate ourselves in times of struggle. Some of the verses below on stillness indicate that we are lying down or sitting/resting in God’s presence as we come to stillness. In these verses, we are to be standing – ready to move, but waiting on the Lord.

• Sometimes we need to be still – just to remember the great things that the Lord has done for us: 1Sam. 12:7 Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you (remind you) before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts (great things) of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers.

Slow down – remember the blessings of the Lord and all that He has accomplished in your life. Don’t always be looking for the new thing – remember what he has done and be still so that it can sink into your heart.

• Sometimes we need to be still as the Lord has us in a place or season of holy awe – we need to be still and quiet – waiting on Him: Neh. 8:11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”

I feel that the Lord is calling His Church to stillness and waiting at the beginning of this year. This is a season to set our eyes on Him and be in awe.

• Sometimes we need to be still and allow the Lord to give us perspective and wisdom on a certain issue – even if it takes all night: Ps. 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

Here it is in the NLT: Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Sometimes thinking about something makes us agitated. It causes us to lose sleep. Here, the psalmist is calling us to think about something and then remain in quiet stillness. I believe it is in the stillness that the wisdom and perspective of God will come to us.

• Sometimes we need to be still in the presence of the Lord and wait for Him to show the way: Ps. 37:7 (NLT) Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

This stillness requires patience. We cannot be trying to fix our own problems – it is so important to release control of these situations to the Lord. We can’t always be in charge – yield to the Lord and be still on the inside and the outside, Watch what He will do on your behalf. The presence of the Lord is the most delightful place to find stillness.

• Sometimes we need to be still and allow the presence of God to wash over us – He makes Himself known in the stillness: Ps. 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

The Message Bible gives us a precious interpretation of this verse: Take a long, loving look at me, your High God

Steal moments out of your day to take long, loving looks at God – no matter what is going on around you – come to a place of stillness on the inside and make room for the Lord to invade your heart! Look at the result of such stillness - He will be exalted in all the nations!

• Sometimes we need to allow the Lord to speak to our storms and command His peace. On this occasion a great calm came over the troubled waters: Mk. 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Jesus rebuked the disciples on this occasion for their lack of faith – remember that the wind and waves obey Him – there is nothing too difficult for Him. Agree quickly with His commands as He looks at your trouble head on, and calls for them to be still.

More on Lingering in the presence of God and waiting on Him HERE

Psalm 119

I have been enjoying Psalm 119 this morning - just amazed by the honesty of these prayers. No one really knows who wrote this one - maybe Ezra the priest.

I am just struck again with the cry that comes from the whole heart:

Vs 2, 10 - the psalmist is seeking God with his whole heart

Vs 34 - the psalmist searches God's Word - or Law with his whole heart

Vs 58 - the psalmist seeks God's favor and blessing with his whole heart 

Vs 69 - the psalmist seeks to obey God with his whole heart

Vs 145  - the psalmist cries out to God with his whole heart

In verses 7, 8, 15, 16, 93 we can see how the psalmist focuses his heart on God and sets his course to accomplish these goals with his whole heart. Once he has committed his whole heart to God, He is able to set his will and run with God:

• I will praise - Praise Him through the Word - it sets your heart on the right course

• I will keep your Word - obey God's Word

• I will meditate - study and reflect on God's Word

• I will delight myself - give yourself to the enjoyment of God's Word

• I will not forget - train yourself to keep God's Word in your heart and thoughts - don't forget what He has said in His Word - remember

This wonderful Psalm basically unfolds from here - it is a psalm totally dedicated to the power and wonders of God's Word in our lives. Those five little foundations (praise, obedience, meditation, delighting, remembering) make the rest of the psalm possible.

The the psalmist is able to accomplish these "I wills" - look at the results of setting our hearts on the right course...and following with the will:

V32 I will run the course of Your commandments
V44 I will keep Your Law (also vs 69, 145)
V45 I will walk in freedom (liberty)
V46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings
V47 I will be delighted by Your commandments
V48 I will meditate in Your statutes (v78)
V81 I will quietly and confidently hold onto the Word

Father, I thank You for Your Word today

how wonderful is Your work in my heart

through this faithful companion!

15 

7 Things - Meditation

Last week I was looking at certain concepts in Psalm 1. In this Psalm, the Lord calls on us to meditate on His Word. 

In non-Christian meditation, we are encouraged to empty the mind, to focus on the inward self. In Christian meditation, we fill our minds with God's Word, and look towards Him rather than towards ourselves. Christian meditation is a means to fill our lives with God's words and allow them to grow in our hearts as a living power within us - it is one way to abide in Him:

Jn. 8:31 ..."If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed."

Jn. 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Here are the 7 things that the Lord invites us to meditate on in the Old Testament, and a couple of helpful lists to meditate on form the New Testament:

• The Lord calls us to meditate on His Law – His Word: Josh 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success

Ps. 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Ps. 119:148 My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.


• The Lord calls us to meditate on Him through the night: Ps. 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches

• The Lord calls us to meditate on the song He gives us in the night: Ps. 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.

• The Lord calls us to meditate on his works: Ps. 77:12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds (Ps. 119:27; 143:5)

• The Lord calls us to meditate on His commandments and ways: Ps. 119:15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.(Ps. 119:23, 48. 78)


• The Lord calls us to meditate on His splendor and majesty: Ps. 145:5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.

• The Lord calls us to meditate on His name: Mal. 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.

• The Lord calls us to meditate on things that are: Phil. 4:8

- What is true

- What is noble

- What is just

- What is pure

- What is lovely

- What is of good report

- What is virtuous

- What is praiseworthy

• The Lord calls us to meditate on: 1Tim. 4:12-15

- Our words

- Our conduct

- Our love

- Our faith

- Our purity

- The Word of God

- The gifts of God

Ps. 104:33-34

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;


I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

May my meditation be sweet to Him;


I will be glad in the Lord.

Worship Arts Conservatory

A new class "Worship, Prayer and Meditation" will begin on September 3rd at our school:

Worship Arts Conservatory.

You can access these classes from anywhere in the world - all you need is an internet connection.

Go to Worship Arts Conservatory for more info:

Meditation

Eastern meditation teaches you to empty your mind. Christian meditation centers around filling our minds - especially with God's Word. Here are 7 things to meditate on:

• Meditate on the Word – Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Ps. 119:148 My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.
Ps. 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

• Meditate on God Himself – Ps. 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

Ps. 145:5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.

• Meditate on God’s Works, His creation – Ps. 77:12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.

Ps. 119:27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

Ps. 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.

• Meditate on God’s Thoughts and Wisdom – Ps. 119:15 I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. (Message)

Psa. 119:48 relishing every fragment of your counsel. (Message)

Is. 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

• Meditate on His Name – Mal. 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.

• Meditate on Godly Character – Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

• Meditate on all the Things He Has Taught You –  1Tim. 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

My prayer to prepare the heart for Biblical meditation:

Fill my mind so I can think Your thoughts

Fill my eyes so I can see Your beauty

Fill my ears so I can hear Your voice

Fill my mouth so I can speak Your wonders

Fill my heart so I can know You more

Fill my hands so I can do what You do

Fill my feet so I can go where You go