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

The Tablecloth

Apparently, this is a true story..... it makes you understand that things happen for a reason .

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in New York State, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities.

When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

On December 19 a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria ..

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten "The Tablecloth". The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home. That was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war. and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

This story was written by Rev. Howard C. Schade (died 1989) - First Reformed Church in Nyack, New York. The story was published in 1954 Reader's Digest.

So when the road you're travelling seems difficult at best, just remember that God can use every storm to bring His blessings. He is able to restore and provide even when all seems lost.