“Guard well this gift I have planted in your heart.” In reading this today, I immediately had thought after thought flooding my mind. How the recognition of each gift, and the awareness of its value are crucial to my walk with Jesus, and my peace in Him. What is the gift? While the list could be lengthy, I think we could just say it’s Himself. This seems important to remember as many of us want to see change in our world. With so many things in the world being so difficult to understand, values, our nation’s direction, I think maybe it’s becoming clearer to all of us, the only answer really is that in our best efforts alone, we are helpless, and that the only answer is to rest in Jesus. All knowledge is His. I was reading Psalm 46 this morning, and was reminded that for those of us seeking refuge in Him alone, we genuinely need not fear anything. “God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way.” -Psalm 46:1-2
Two nights ago our small group discussed our burdens and our hope for change in our nation, and our world. We discussed everything from the heart of people, how the church has been fragmented and broken, what we can do about it, and arriving each time back in agreement: Pray, do the little things God asks of us, and rest in the truth that He is who he says He is. It’s really all we have. Our small group may be one of the most perfect pictures of how such imperfect people can still love with the heart of Christ, in agreement and disagreement, understanding and uncertainty. If we can do that in a den with 12 people, we can believe and hope for the church and the entire body of Christ, being equipped with God’s spirit, to do so much more. I think we all long that the world would know the true heart of the true church, that we love them, that we know we are the ones in the way, but still want to help, to love, to know their burdens and help them carry those burdens to the Savior.
Psalm 46:4-7 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God; the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;” and I love this next part, “He lifts his voice, and the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us.” I’m no scholar, but my bible indicates that Jerusalem had no actual river, but it had God and to this day it seems He’s been their only sustainer. History surely shows people abandoned God in so many ways and consequences followed. We see so much of the same right here too, but it doesn’t change that we are His. I do believe anything not in the Lord will be shaken, but there is a firm ground we as believers stand on. Are we inviting others to join us? Psalm 46:8 says, “Come and see the works of the Lord” along with verses describing his power to cause and cease anything at any moment, but I keep coming back to that key verse that changes everything for every believer about the truth of our role, and His ultimate plan. “46:10, “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Burdened hearts driving us to prayer, and full hearts longing to reach out to those who don’t understand us, maybe even hate us, is the heart of Jesus, and how can I even want to respond that way unless I practice verse 10. “Be still” “Know that I am God.” To really know Him, is to be still with Him, converse in candid praise and longing to be near Him. The overflow of God’s Spirit in each of us WILL change the world little by little only because of who He is. Is guarding the gift in the being still? We already know how the story ends. So with Him exalted, and us by His side either in this world or in the one we can’t see, His words can be trusted. We need only continue to fight a good fight, pray for our leaders, be loving even as we watch the tide move in a direction that may bring us sadness and mourning, but more importantly, celebrate the victory of even one heart turning to Christ. Opportunities are everywhere for us to remember that He is God, and that He will be exalted among the nations.
This remembrance is His gift to us, as we’re not even able to remember on our own… So today, “Be Still” truly know that He’s got it, that He’s God. That you woke up today because He said so. And guard well this gift He has planted in our hearts. The gift of Himself.