Have you had a chance this week to be still? God says in Psalm 46, “to be still and know that I am God”.
Each day I start with a list of things to do, and the list gets longer by the end of the day. Someone once told me, ‘that’s the nature of ministry. Ministry creates ministry’. No doubt having four kids also squeezes out ‘stillness’ from my life. It takes great discipline these days for all of us to get quality quiet time alone with God.
But what does God mean by ‘being still’?
God is not telling us here to have a quiet time every day, although that is an important godly habit to cultivate. This is more than that. It is much more profound. It is not about activity, or doing something. You might say it is about doing nothing– it is to stop.
When you read the verse in context, the Psalmist considers the works of God– we are to “come, and behold the works of the Lord”. In particular, we are to consider God’s victory over his enemies and exaltation among the nations. For all this is proof that God is with us- he is our refuge, rock and fortress.
And from this knowledge, the Psalmist urges confidence in God even though the earth is moving beneath us. To “be still and know that I am God” is not some sort of mystical journey inwards, or meditative emptying of the mind. It is to trust. It is to rest in God, alone, fully, completely, in a crazy swirling world. It is to admit that only God can save me, and he is Lord.
If you haven’t considered the works of the Lord, and been still, may today be a fresh opportunity to do that. This coming Sunday at church, we begin an exciting series today on Matthew’s expert presentation of the divine encounter we can have with the Lord Jesus, who did, and does, the work of God. (Andrew)

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