Numbers 9:8 And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.” Does anyone else think it’s interesting that Moses told the men who had come to inquire about Passover to be still so he could hear from God? The word for stand still here also means to stand firm. In other words, don’t run! But it does mean to stand still. It implies that until they stop and are quiet and rest and listen that Moses won’t be able to hear God’s voice. What does that mean for us today? Maybe we need to stand still, too. I know that I spend a large portion of my day running around like crazy, chasing children, discussing a lesson plan, listening to music or commentary, blaring the TV, etc. I am rarely still. When I am still, it takes all of 5 minutes for me to pass out from exhaustion. My life is often quite non-conducive to hearing from God. I have no idea how to be still. The only truly still time I have is in the morning when I write here in this blog (and even that is often disrupted by a sleepy little monkey who thinks 5am is a perfectly acceptable time to be awake). It’s hard to hear when we’re moving. So many things distract us (like not falling over something, navigation, the wind rushing by, the scenery). I need to learn to stand still so I can better hear what God has to say to me. No one said the lessons of the Bible were easy to apply. Sigh.
Psalm 31:22 As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you. “In my haste,” says David. That sounds like me. In my Greek way of thinking, I need to know now. I often jump to a conclusion quickly and fail to wait for God’s answer. It’s that way in this verse. David jumps to the conclusion that God isn’t paying attention, but later God does answer. The beauty is that He answers even though David makes the assumption that He’s not going to. Sometimes we just need to wait longer and be quieter. Don’t be hasty!
Daniel 9: 23 “The moment you began praying, a command was given. I am here to tell you what it was, for God loves you very much…” First of all, Daniel was getting to know Gabriel pretty well. Second, the insight that he gives to Daniel is about as clear as mud. But that’s beside the point. What I love about this is that God started working the moment Daniel started praying. He didn’t wait until the prayer was over or a few days after that. It was instantaneous. God loved Daniel. God loves me. God loves you. Imagine how powerful prayer is, and how much more so when we actually begin to pray. That’s like in Frank Peretti’s books. Until the saints of God start to pray, the angels struggle to hold back the forces of the enemy. But once the saints pray… the results are pretty awesome! Now, I don’t know how much the angels struggle when we don’t pray, but I do know that when we pray God does some incredible things (most of which we probably never even realize). So what, you ask? Well, start praying and watch what happens. God starts working the moment we start to pray. The results may not be immediately discernible, but they’re there. And that’s pretty amazing!
I need to preface the verses today with a small comment: I woke up this morning struggling not to worry about our finances this next school year. I found out that we won’t be getting our annual cost-of-living raise (no surprise there), but they would be increasing our insurance rates, again. As it is, we struggle to make ends meet, and the prospect of having our income cut even more is a little overwhelming. So, this was the burden of my heart as I sat down this morning. And here is what God gave me: Philippians 4: 4, 6-7, 13 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!… Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus…For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. I can see God up there smiling as I read this morning. These verses aren’t anything new. I even have them memorized. But, for them to be part of what I’m reading this morning, when I’m trying not to worry, when I have a great need, when I greatly need peace, and when I have no idea how to be strong, is such a huge affirmation that God does care about my feelings and about the situations that I find myself in. So, I will find joy in Him, I will thank him for His many blessings (and they are numerous), and I will tell Him what I need (or what I think I need). He knows, He cares, and He’s got all the resources of this universe and millions of others at His fingertips. He sends rain to thirsty flowers and gives food to hungry birds. How much more does He love me and take care of me? I can’t decide if I want to laugh or cry. Yeah God!
Isaiah 21:12 The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon follow. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.” Several Thoughts: My Bible says this is a message concerning Edom which is a play on words in Hebrew meaning “silence” or “stillness.” He says to come back and ask again… will the answer change? Or is it like the little kid in the back of the car… “Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Persistence pays off, as Jesus shows when he heals the blind man who kept calling His name and in the parable about the woman and the ruler. In application: if we have a question for God and we don’t understand the answer, keep coming back and asking until it makes sense or the answer is certain (I understand the answer).
Ecc 11:5 God’s ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother’s womb. That pretty much sums it up. I have no idea what God is up to. But, I guess that’s why He is God and I’m not. We think we’re pretty smart. We use science to try and explain everything. And, science is good. However, no matter how much we try to explain God and the things in this world, no matter how much we learn and how much we can see, we will never figure His ways out. Maybe that’s why it seems so hard to walk in His ways. John and I really want to be on His path, in the middle of His plan, doing what He wants… but sometimes it seems like we’re walking in the dark and as lost as a child alone in a wild theme park. And this begs the question… Do you trust Me? … I choose to trust Him. I choose to keep stepping forward, trusting that He will be there to catch me. I choose to believe in Him even when I can’t see Him or feel Him or hear Him. I choose to raise my children to know Him. I choose to serve Him, not things or myself (at least to do my utmost in this area because as a human I will fail). I choose to seek Him – to know His character and to recognize His voice. So, yes. I suppose, in the end, I will trust You. I will never understand why You do the things You do or allow the circumstances You allow. I will never fully know Your ways or Your thoughts and motivations. But, if I believe ONE part of You – that You are who You say You are – God, Truth, Life – then I must also believe the other parts of You – Provider, Love, Father, Way. Do you trust Me?Before, I don’t know. Will you trust Me?Yes. So, Do you trust Me?Yes.