Maybe being "still" is the most difficult thing to do.  If we are asked to accomplish a task, we will frantically run hither and thither to do it.  But if we are asked to be still, we will squirm in our seats.  But there are times in our lives when God asks us to be still.  God wants to prove Himself without our help.  To be still needs more skill than to be active.  How do we develop this skill?

1.  Meditate on the greatness of God.

The reason why we develop anxiety neurosis over something is because we underestimate the power of God.  Jesus taught us not to be anxious about anything.  We don't accomplish much by our nervous behaviour except for some blunder.  When your palms are sweating over some issue, Jesus suggested that you go for a walk and observe the wild flowers and birds.  They will teach you that God is great and you don't need to worry (Mt 6:25-34).  God asked Abraham, "Is anything too hard for Me?"(Gen 18:14).  When Jeremiah was doubtful, God asked him, "Is there anything too hard for Me?"(Jer 32:27).  The answer to the question comes in the New Testament, not once but twice: "With God nothing is impossible "(Mt 19:26; Lk 1:37).  The bigger we see God, the greater will be our faith. 

There are other attributes of God which speak of His power and might.  Meditate on them, and your nervous sweat will vanish like dew. 

2.  Control impulsive acts.

When the Egyptian army was after Israel, when they faced the Red Sea, they were terrified.  They called on God but charged Moses, that he brought them to die in the wilderness.  "Did we not tell you while in Egypt, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?'" Any of us would have said the same under such a circumstance.  But Moses calmed them down saying, "Do not be afraid.  Stand STILL and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today... The Lord will fight for you and you need only to be STILL" (Exo 14:10-14).  Left to themselves, they would have fallen at the feet of the Egyptians, begging them to take them back. 

When circumstances close in on us, we go berserk and do unwise things only to repent later.  Wisdom comes late, as they say.  It is not that we should do nothing, but that we should wait till we get clear guidance from the Lord.  So cool, your nerves.  Control yourself from impulsive acts that may worsen the situation and damage your life.  Our strength is not in dashing here and there to do this or that but is in calm faith.  "He who believes will not make haste"(Isa 28:16).  God is someone you can trust. 

The King of Syria was making war against Israel.  But by the counsel of Elisha, the King of Israel would know his plans and escape.  When the king of Syria got wind of it, he sent his army to surround Dothan and arrest Elisha.  God answered Elisha's prayer and struck them blind.  So Elisha guided them to Samaria.  When their eyes were opened, they saw that they were in Samaria.  When the king of Israel was in a hurry to kill the vast Syrian army, Elisha told him to serve a festive meal.  So they ate and left and came no more into the land of Israel!  Read this interesting story in 2 Kings 6:8-23.  Isn't that a great way to defeat the enemy?  The King of Israel might have foolishly acted but for Elisha's interference.  James and John wanted to bring down fire to consume people, and Peter cut off Malchus' ear.  Jesus scolded them for their wild thinking and acts (Lk 9:54; Jn 18:10). 

3.  Use your brain.

Instead of taking rash decisions in a critical situation, think and expect God to guide you.  David was a man who was known for his thoughtful acts.  He tells us: "In your anger do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be STILL" (Psa 4:4).  I suppose, many times when David practiced this, he would have been led of God to change his thoughts of vengeance to one of a cuckoo's song.

Naomi was another such sensible person.  She guided Ruth to propose to Boaz and then told her: "Sit STILL my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day"(Ruth 3:18).  I am sure when Naomi went to bed, her thoughts and plans were guided by God, as the widowhood of her daughter-in-law lay heavily on her chest.  God put a thought in Nehemiah's heart (Neh 2:12;7:5). 

Thus, in your quiet hours, be talking to God.  Remember His promises.  Jesus Christ who spoke to His children 2000 years ago is the same yesterday  and today and forever (Heb 13:8).  He will guide you, and something will click.

4.  Behave naturally.

Go ahead with life as if nothing has happened.  Let's say a plot is going on behind your back, and God is telling you to be still. It is next to impossible not to react to the person who is about to stab your back.  You feel like blowing your brains out when you see him.  It is not acting or hypocrisy but self-control and trust in the Lord.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures." Yes, you just lie down and rest.  Your Shepherd is nearby, watching over you.  You don't need to fret.  "He leads me beside the STILL waters." He makes even your atmosphere still. How do you feel relishing a sumptuous meal when your enemies with empty stomachs are watching you! (Psa 23).

Imagine Joseph serving food for his brothers without screwing up his face (Gen 43:34).  They were merry with him, not in the least guessing the storm blowing in his brain.  Joseph is the out and out model for being still, allowing God to have His way.

5.  Pray.

You need God's help to do nothing.  It is more difficult than doing something.  Pray that God will give you the strength, courage and wisdom to be still.  Pray for the situation.  God did not want to hide from Abraham what He was about to do.  So He told him that He was going down to see Sodom and Gomorrah to check if the information He received warrants their destruction.  Abraham turned pale,  thinking about Lot.  So what did he do?  He was impotent before his Friend, the Almighty God.  So he prayed, he pleaded, he begged.  The deal was over, "and Abraham returned to his place"(Gen 18:17-33). 

After a sleepless night, Abraham went early in the morning to the place he had stood before the Lord.  Then he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace (19:27,28).  "It came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived"(v 29).

Don't you feel like shouting a big hallelujah?  God will not forget your prayers.  Abraham did not mention Lot when he bargained with God.  But God saw through his heart.  God quietly said, "Hmmm, done" and moved away.  Cornelius' prayers went up for a memorial before God.  Take heart, dear one, God is known as the "God who hears prayers"(Psa 65:2).

6.  Don't go to everyone with your problem.

Everyone is not a saint. If need be, unburden yourself to a senior godly couple, who can pray for you, guide you and help you.  A fool's heart is in his mouth.  David had one reliable friend Jonathan who could be trusted, who sought his welfare and stuck to him like bubblegum to the end of his life (I Sam 20:1,2).  Hannah was very wise.  She went to God straight and poured out her heart to Him.  Then she was no more sad.  She was still and knew that He was God.  When a great coalescent army came against Jehoshaphat, he was afraid.  He did not immediately plan to get other armies for his support, to match the enemy army.  He prayed, "We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." God replied, "You will not need to fight in this battle.  Position yourselves, stand STILL and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you (2 Chron 20:17). 

 If you unwisely confide in untrustworthy people, and some damage has been caused, it is next to impossible to repair it.  You'll have to live with the consequences.  Learn like Mary, the mother of Jesus, to keep things in your heart.

7.  Be patient.

God has a grandfather clock, the hands of which pirouette differently from our's and a calendar whose pages turn slow.  We pray and sing. "How great Thou art, how great Thou art!" yet no stone moves.  We become desperate and do something foolish, only to regret later.  That's what Sarah did.  Abraham never blamed Sarah as barren.  He always said, "I go childless." It was Sarah who said. "The Lord has restrained me from bearing children "(Gen 16:2).  So there was no pressure on her.  Yet she could not wait for the hands of God's clock to move or His calendar pages to turn.  Her clock's alarm blared and she decided the time was up.  What a foolish thing to do! 

Have you ever done this mistake in your life only to hang your head in shame?  Don't worry, you have learnt a valuable lesson.  Never repeat it in the future.  God's alarm may ring or may not.  But He knows what to do with your problem. 
 

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength," said God to those Jews who wanted to flee to Egypt to escape the invading Babylonians.  But the people said, "No, we will flee on horses."  So God said. "Okay, flee!" (Isa 30:15,16).  When we adamantly go against God's will, He will not stop us.  We will dash our head against a rock and come back in repentance. So wait.  The prophet concludes, "Blessed are all those who wait for Him"(v 18).

So learn the spiritual discipline of being still to know the will of God and proceed cautiously in life.  The prophet Isaiah did not leave the people clueless.  He said, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left"(Isa 30:21).  We have God's word in our hands.  If we upload it in our hearts, we will learn to be still and hear the guiding words of God.

 "Be STILL and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth"(Psa 46:10). 

Dr. Lilian Stanley
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Vellore 632006, India
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