and know

Opening Prayer: Lord God, help us to be still and to know that you are God, for both are necessary.  

Scripture: Psalm 46:10

Journal: How good are you at being still?  Do you have much stillness in your life?  How good are you at knowing he is God?  How does being still help you to know that he is God?  How, where, and when will you do both of those today?

Reflection: The words of this ancient prayer teach us a great spiritual truth: It’s not just “be still,” but “be still and know that I am God.”  Both are required.  

     It is being still that makes it possible for us to know that he is God.  It helps us to make space and time for that knowing to take place.  But being still on its own is not enough.  In fact, the being still part doesn’t do a whole lot of good without the knowing he is God part.  

     It is a beautiful thing that God longs to be known.  In fact, that’s where we get it from.  He made us for the purpose of knowing he is God.  Not just intellectually knowing him (that’s part of it), but spiritually, emotionally, and relationally knowing him as well.  God wants us to know him intimately.  And when we do—when we know to the core of our being that he is God—it changes everything.  Everything else comes into perspective.  Everything else falls into its proper place.  

     So let us take the words of this ancient prayer to heart today.  Let us be still and let us know that he is God.  For being still is of some value, but being still and knowing that he is God is of value for this life and the life to come.

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Thank you, O Lord, that you desire us to know you deeply.  Help us to be still this day and turn our hearts and minds and souls to you in prayer, so that we may truly know that you are God.  Amen.