April 10th

April 10th

Sometimes we get so worked up and worried or stressed that we don’t stop expressing our opinions to everyone about the situation -including God. Oh He is happy to hear us venting to Him and He will always listen. But when we then get up and continue our opinionating with others, He shakes His head in disappointment. Not at us, but disappointment because we are still carrying it and He wants us to just leave it there in His lap and let Him deal with it and give us His peace to carry instead.

If we just jabber away about it to God like we are unloading on a friend and then walk away without getting anything from Him, our relief doesn’t last and soon we are back to telling others.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

We spill our guts to the Lord, which He does encourage us to do, but then we need to see what He has for us. We need to sit and be still with Him. Sit and let ourselves sense His presence and receive His peace. He may even give us some guidance. Or He may just say, “Don’t stress over it, let me handle it” or “Wait and see what I will do.”

He may remind you that He is with you wherever you go, or that He has a perfect plan for you that you can trust. We can’t listen when we are talking. It’s hard to listen when our mind is racing or when our heart hurts. But those are the times that we most need to quiet ourselves and be still and know that He is God and that means that we are safe, that we will be ok; -that someday we will be better than ok.

We have to listen..and when we do, we will find everything we need…direction/guidance, hope, peace.

Isaiah 48:17-18 This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.

How can we be taught and directed if we don’t stop talking, if we don’t listen.

Talking, expressing ourselves, helps us feel known. But…He already knows us, better than we know ourselves. Feeling known will not do for us what we need done. Knowing Him, on the other hand, accomplishes in us EVERYTHING we NEED. Knowing Him… changes us and our lives. Knowing Him… can even change our situation. Knowing Him… will bring us peace, no matter the circumstances.

Jesus said that He would give His peace. Let that peace be the result of the time we spend with Him.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

This week when our hearts are troubled, let us go to Jesus and vent, but then let us be still and know that He is God and let Him pour His peace into us, leaving our burden in His lap.

Jesus, thank you for being willing to give me your peace, true peace. Help me to remember that you offer that to me, when I am troubled and worried. Help me to bring my burdens to you and leave them there with you. Help me learn how to be still and know you. Help me to learn how to stand in your presence quiet and listening for you. Thank you for being willing to listen but also willing to speak to me.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.