From Prayer, by Philip Yancey:
“Be still and know that I am God”: the Latin imperative for “be still” is vacate. As Simon Tugwell explains, “God invites us to take a holiday [vacation], to stop being God for a while, and let him be God…God is inviting us to take a break, to play truant. We can stop doing all those important things we have to do in our capacity as God, and leave it to him to be God.”
Oh Ann, this one hits me right between the eyes. Thank you. I’m going to carry this one in my heart and try to be still much more of the time.
Reading this, I’m recalling how you wrote in “Not So Fast” about the Bible translation that puts it this way: “Cease striving.”
Thank you for this.
Yes, it is difficult being God. Getting down off the throne and allowing him to reign from there is not as much fun, but after all, He can do a much better job than we can.
He reads our hearts, our thoughts, and those of our friends and loved ones. He knows where they are with Him, and our judgment of how we would change them, is useless.
Our part is to pray while we minister before the Lord, and allow Him to be God.
Ann, I can’t believe it! This past weekend I “vacated” to California on a girls’ weekend that we hold annually–there or here. While we were there, our friend took us to the beach. I’m planning on using the photo in my next post!
But even more amazing is that God has been talking to me about “ceasing” to be God (or trying to be God). I encountered a lot of stress as I headed out for a break~that felt more like a pressure with all that had to be done before I left. I keep trying to control the circumstances in our family’s life while sliding in to meet others’ needs. I think I forgot who is in control here, and I’m playing God!
Some of my ideas being chewed over here.
Blessings,
Janis
Beautiful…and timely! While learning to use my Bible software years ago, “still” from Psalm 46 was the word used to teach how to look up every other verse that uses that word in Hebrew no matter how it’s translated in English. One of the sweetest times in the Word I’ve ever enjoyed. I’m eager to pull those notes out again now.
Something for every day, not reaching for that fruit Eve stretched for to be like God… You can rest here, simply BE here, without all the striving.
thank you for sharing this. finding peace here this morning.
“To play truant.” Yahoo! I’ve always been such a goody-two-shoes. Now, i get to walk on the wild side!
To stop being God for a while . . . I do that, you know. Try to be God, and feel the weight of the whole world on my back. But God never asked me to do that. He’s got it. I can vacate.
“Charity has left the building!”
I find that I must often cease placing my own will on the throne as my idol and rest on the truth that God truly is worthy of my trust and all of my love. My will totally surrendered to His Will because His love is so infinitely great towards me and He is eminently trustworthy
Lovely! About a month ago, at the end of my daily written prayer in my journal I wrote:
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still.
I am God.
A little message from Him in response to my prayer to Him. I should like to print it out and post to on my wall to remind me everyday.
Thank you for reminding me again.
Fascinating, to think that ONLY in God can we truly BE STILL. Is rest even a possibility for anyone apart from God? No matter the spa treatment, drug of choice, alcoholic beverage, amount of money, relaxing view, vacation destination, healthy lifestyle…nothing can bring the rest that God can bring… And it is a rest that does not desire sacrifice, just mercy.
I’m resting in this…and denying the lie that “rest” in Christ is a sin (something I used to believe, as if it is only attainable in Heaven).
Thank you for the gentle reminder today,
Karen
Be still means vacate. I like that. I will remember that:)