So often I hear people talking of their struggle to be still before God, or the fact that they felt they were being still but God didn’t show up. They feel frustrated and let down because the time they set aside to invest in being still left them irritated, unsettled and disappointed. I understand this frustration to well because there was a time when I too felt like that, but that changed about four years ago when God took me on a trip that changed my life where He taught me the simplicity, the discipline and the surrender involved in being still the way God requires us to be still.
When it comes to being still before God, very few of us seem to be able to be patient enough to wait on Him. Perhaps Psalm 46:10 should have read “patiently be still and Know that I am God” as Psalm 37:7 does “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him,” for much patience and discipline is required to still the flesh and cast don it’s rude interruptions. “Be still and know that I am God”, is one of the most famous Psalm quoted when we are encouraging people to be still, but for me Psalm 46:10 cannot be implemented without the application of Psalm 62: 5 “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.” and verse 2 “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” and Psalm 37:7“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.”
Patience is the key in coming before God and being still before Him. We have to allow ourselves time to settle. This is something I learnt when He instructed me to sit before Him for a week in silence, yep that’s exactly what I thought. One whole week of being still and knowing Him as God, But what a week it was. The simplicity of being still and having your entire being consumed by Him is summed up perfectly in the words “Know that I Am God.” There’s a knowing and stillness in the silence for which there are no words.
We think we know what time with God is like, We imagine what it must be like, we sing songs to usher in His presence and set the scene, but the truth of the matter is, God does not need an introduction and He does not need to be ushered into a place where He already exist. In coming before God with a surrendered heart I have found it to be the simplest and rewarding thing to do. But the hardest thing has been letting go of all I think I know about how He acts and what is required to welcome His presence. What I’ve learnt to do is something we all know but scarily do, that is – to come as we are.
Come as you are, like a child with no agenda. Come as you are like a child totally reliant on their parent. Come as you are leaning not on your own understanding. Come as you are in purest of heart. Empty your mind of yesterday’s blessing and breakthrough method and prepare to be consumed by Him, on His terms.
Do not be afraid to be still, do not be afraid of the silence. Surrender. Don’t be tempted to take control when it seems as if He is being too quiet for your liking, or your mind tells you nothing is happening. During your quiet with Him When those thoughts come to mind ask yourself the question, “is that something the Holy Spirit would say?” No! So cast it down and continue to cast each though down until they are gone. One of the things I had to learn that has totally changed my life is the discipline of emptying my mind and coming before Him and waiting, waiting, and waiting until He makes His move.
An insert from my book –
God’s Romantic Getaway
course I feel frustrated that He isn’t there ready and waiting as He has been in days past and like waves of the sea I feel the weight of disappointment sweeping over me but before I digress in its path I catch myself. I stop and I whisper “Father, make this about You. I’m here, what do want to talk about? What do You want to show me?” I realise I can’t leave until He has answered and purpose in my mind if I have to wait all day, then I will sit and wait. “Father, what are You teaching me today?”
Sitting in silence I continue to wait, still my thoughts and I wait.
Perseverance… . .
It took a while, a long while, but He came.
Sometimes you just have to sit and wait and in your waiting don’t ever take the initiative, always allow God to lead. Train yourself to sit at His feet and wait. God does not need us, we need Him, so wait and if it takes all day wait. He is watching your motive, movements and thoughts. Did you know waiting is being obedient? I learnt that today. In your waiting for Him to make the first move, you are submitting yourself to Him, which in itself is an act of worship. He will reveal Himself to you when He is ready and that won’t be until you are ready.
When your will is not frustrated because He didn’t come in the speed and manner of His last visit, when your mind is not frantically wondering where He is, why He hasn’t come yet or about the list of things you need to do, when you lay aside your routine; prayer, scripture reading and then departure, when your spirit is calm and you realise this is about Him, clear your mind and settle yourself to wait as patiently for Him as He does for you. Then, He will come . As David said in Psalm 37 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” Ps 37:7a (NIV)
Today He taught me how to forget about myself, concentrate on Him and worship Him.
When it comes to being still before God, you have to forget about a time and stop trying to be still and just be………… still.
