Be Still

TITLE: BE STILL

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 46:10-11

There are moments when we all need to hit the pause button. Life races on and, if we are not intentional and careful, we lose the joy and purpose of it all.

• Yes, sometimes you just need to pause

• Too much Noise

• Too many Appointments

We overcommit ourselves to others and undervalue the health of our own souls. “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” The same Holy Spirit who came as a MIGHTY RUSHING WIND also brings the gentle breeze.

• You do not always have to hurry to get things done

• Sometimes God is doing most in us when we are not in a hurry at all

There is too much haste in the home today.

• Hurry steals the heart away

• Busyness is an Action

• Hurry is an Attitude

Those who work hard and desire the best are going to be busy. But in our busyness, we must not hurry past the Lord and those we love.

• Urgency is not living at a faster pace

• It is living with properly placed priorities

Life is full of movement.

• Movement is not a bad thing

• If we are moving, we are living

• If we are moving, we are making progress

Movement, though, is also exhausting — physically and mentally. In some ways, all this movement can be paralyzing. We feel stuck or caught because though we're moving all over the place there is no direction or meaning behind it.

• We know we're moving, but we wonder if we're really getting anywhere

• In the midst of all of this - God says, "BE STILL"

This isn’t merely about silence. stillness, in biblical terms, means surrendering our striving -- pausing our panic - and making space for God’s presence.

• It’s a soul posture

• It’s an intentional yielding of control to the sovereignty of God

There is an interesting word found in the OT that oftentimes we are not quite sure what to do with in our readings. There is one word in Scripture that sums up the necessity of pausing -- SELAH. This Hebrew word is meant as an intentional pause in the reading.

• A planned pause

• It is found 74 times in the Old Testament

• 71 times in the Psalms

• 3 times in Habakkuk

74- times in the Old Testament, the writers penned “SELAH” in strategic places.

• “Amen” is used 28 times in the Old Testament

• “Hallelujah” 23 times

• Like “Selah,” “Hallelujah” is only used in Psalms

• Additionally, all the Psalmists, but two, used “Selah” as part of their inspired text

• It is definitely a word worth understanding!

There is some debate whether the word is to be read aloud at all or if it is just a way of stopping us and calling attention to the truth of the text. Even this is a reminder that in our Bible reading we frequently rush right on to the next verse without pausing long enough to think.

• To Commune

• To Ponder

• To Apply

• In the quiet, God speaks

Many commentators think that Selah meant 'to pause' or 'to reflect.' This could have been a request for the reader or listener to pause and think about what has just been said, or it could have been a space for voices to pause and for instruments play alone. We don't really know for certain. Regardless, the word Selah itself indeed causes us to pause and consider what God may be saying even when we don't fully understand.

• Selah gives us an opportunity to take a moment away from this Crazy - Busy - Non-Stop life we all tend to live and consider the immense mysteries and wonders of God

Much is accomplished in the pauses of life. God renews our strength in those waiting times. That is what ISAIAH 40:31 tells us as well “BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT.” We reflect - God realigns. The pause does not mean simply “doing nothing” or filling the hours with entertainment and recreation.

The pause should have a purpose.

• Pause to Ponder

• Pause to Pray

• Pause to Praise

• Pause to Plan

• Pause to Prioritize

There is no “stop” button for life –

• It will go on until God says that it is finished

• You cannot Rewind to Yesterday – it is over

• It is impossible to Fast Forward to Tomorrow – that is in God’s knowledge alone

• But you can Pause Today

When we consider our Nation and the condition of our world as well as this time in history, it is vital that God’s people hit pause and take a spiritual inventory of our lives.