God says RELAX!

Psalm 46

 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. 11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It shows just how much we can trust him. In Him we are safe, because no matter what happens in our lives, He is present. Think about this.

When we face challenges so big, we have no idea how we will overcome: HE is with us. When we hear “no” so many times we wonder if life will ever throw us a bone: He is with us. When enemies press all around, and we have no idea what to do: HE is with us. When we sit in a hospital waiting-room hearing the doctor say cancer: He is with us. When we are alone because our spouse left, He is with us. When we have given up on life, because we feel like there is nothing to live for, He is with us. When the very foundation of our world seems shaken, He is with us AND He is in control!

Reading verse 4 and 5 which talk about the River flowing, making the city of God glad I get excited. Because that River is God’s blessings and His presence in my life and now that Jesus has come, God dwells in me, not just Heaven!

But by far, my absolute favorite part of these verses is this: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Strong’s concordance says the word “Still” is raphah. It means this: relax, let it go, be still, chill out, drop down, let it alone, be quiet, cut yourself some slack.

We all have deadlines, pressure to perform, demands from family and high expectations from ourselves to be perfect, and we constantly compare ourselves to others. Wow, no wonder we are a mess. No wonder God wants us to be still. God says RELAX! Chill out, let it go, cut yourself some slack and KNOW (understand, become intimately acquainted with the fact that) He is God!

The bible says that God’s people perish (die, bite it, cease to live) because they lack KNOWLEDGE! (John 8:32) Someone pointed out to me recently that it isn’t ‘the truth shall set you free’; it is the truth you KNOW that sets you free. So know this: God is in control, HE is with you, and He will not forsake you and leave you to face anything alone. Be still, relax into His arms and chill a while in His presence. Cut yourself some slack and rely more on Him, He has this!

Be blessed and be a blessing, and remember, relax is a verb.