Still and Quiet

God invites us today to remember that God goes before us and is with us.  We can still our hearts an quiet our minds because He will never leave us nor forsake us.  His promise is clear:

The Lord himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid.

Deuteronomy 31:8

We want to be filled up with how good God is and how safe and steady we are when our lives are settled in His care.  So, if God is with us, leading us, never failing or abandoning us then surely we can encourage our hearts by saying:

“The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!” 

Lamentations 3:24

If you’ve been around me long you know that one of my favourite Psalms – one of the little ones – is Psalm 131.  Just a few little sentences that tell us to not get worked up about things that are beyond us – either good or bad – but rather to settle down and settle in to God’s care just like a little child rests in His mother’s arms after feeding and being cared for.  Here’s the Psalm

Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me. Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever! 

Psalm 131:1-3

What giving up our pride and arrogance as this Psalm instruct us usually means is that we have to let go some things that we don’t currently have answers for or let others off the hook for something we want them to explain or make right that is not likely to happen.

God’s call on my life and yours is to find peace and rest close to His heart.  Have we done that? Panic and fear and anger short circuit clear thinking and so we need to find a place of security and peace. 

So let’s pray this Psalm again and give ourselves to God once more today.  

Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.

Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me.

Israel, [And you can insert your own name here], trust in the Lord now and forever! 

Psalm 131:1-3

Let’s live uncomplicated, still, and quiet and peaceful lives today.  Have a great day.