Today’s Verses:
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalms 37:7
Devotional:
Still is not a word anyone would use to describe our society today. Mainly we embody the exact opposite. Frantic. Busy. Stressed. Fast-Paced. Hurried. Always on the go. Whether we fixate on flickering pixels, our ever-expanding to-do lists, or the urge to always be doing something—we have forgotten what it’s like to be still, and our souls are paying the price.
God knows we tend to find our identity in what we do, not in who we are, which is why He gave us the Sabbath. Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word “Shabbat,” meaning to rest or cease labor. It helps us practice “being” rather than “doing.” Having a regular rhythm of rest and stillness from our work is so important that God modeled it Himself, by creating in six days and resting on the seventh. God didn’t rest because He was tired, burnt out, and overworked—He was showing us the key to proper rest is to be still before you have to be.
A. J. Swoboda says, “A Christian does not see a Sabbath as a period of time. Sabbath, for a Christian, is a way of life. All of life for a Christ wanderer is a Sabbath. All of life is one big period of rest—not rest from the day job or rest from responsibilities, but rest from striving. From saving ourselves. From all of that.”
Use your time with God today to practice stillness. Be still in His presence. Take a deep breath. Rest in His goodness and love. Surrender all striving and ask Him to help you find your identity in who you are in Him, not in what you do.
Question:
How can you make time for stillness and rest in your weekly rhythm?
Prayer:
Jesus, help me be still and know that you are God. Help me to quiet my mind and soul enough to hear from you. Speak to me during this time. Release me from the burden of striving and help me to rest in your love. Help me to find my identity in you. Amen.
