be still

'be still and know that I am God' Psalm 46:10

That verse popped into my head today. Made me realise, it's so easy to get all caught up in circumstance and for our minds to get stuck in overdrive, just thinking too hard about the ins and outs of life, when all we're doing is wasting precious time.... We get caught up thinking 'what if?' and 'why?' and 'what do you want me to do?' and 'do you even care?' and 'can't you hear me?' and 'where are you?' Before we know it, we're stamping our feet and trying to get all the answers, and when we don't we are flung into a full blown stress frenzy, and our walk with God goes a few steps backwards, because our trust upon him has slipped.

This verse, tells us to 'be still and KNOW that I am God.' It doesn't say 'KNOW that i am God and THEN be still.' I think it's a decision we must make, as incredibly hard as it may be, we need to lift up that chin, turn our face toward our Daddy, so his gaze is upon us, where we are able to see it, and then decide that this situation is smaller than God, and that he is more than capable of handling it. It is then that you will KNOW God, it comes second. Take a step of faith, and then KNOW that he is God.

I know stressing out about situations and letting them take you over is so easy to do, but being 'still' is just letting go of that thing you've been holding on to so tightly, and giving it over to someone who knows how to deal with it. If you haven't let it go, how can anything good be done with it? It's still in your hands which aren't capable of doing anything but stress! So loosen that grip, it's a stronghold that is pulling you down, and pass it on over to your father!

When we give to him, he pours out the blessings upon YOU. 'Luke 6:38 Give and you will receive, your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back' So take a deep breath, and trust and be still in HIS strength. Let it go, Let Jesus do what he wants with it, after all, he will bless you for it, abundantly!! Believe it! We have the power, through the most amazing holy father ever, to get through tough times with joy and peace.

something big.

'persist: to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action..'

'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.' Isaiah 40:31

I feel as though i am learning the true meaning of perseverance, of persisting to see my fathers beautiful path, in the times when it's easiest to give up, to slump down and give in to the darkness trying to press it's way in. It is then that i MUST take a quiet moment and say to my heavenly papa 'Father, my strong and mighty father, i can't fight this anymore, my heart screams out for satisfaction from things that won't ultimately satisfy, i need you right now Jesus, more than anything, I know you will satisfy, i know you're forever having to show me your truth, that your love is better, but please, in this moment of pain, i welcome you in'

Jesus comes into our pain and brokenness, and wipes those tears off our face and says 'my child, i love you, come back to me, I AM all you need. I AM.' It is a huge lesson in persistence, it goes against what our soul naturally wants to do, we have an idea in our head on what is going to satisfy, and only end up hurting as we've poured a part of ourself out to something that doesn't last, only to be left feeling empty, and having lost something. Yet we still go back to it time and time again trying to find our lost piece again. Jesus however, when we run to him, we have a fail proof father, who is never going to run dry, never going to leave you helpless, never going to hurt you. Why is it that we continue to run to things that don't last? Persist with Jesus' fail proof love. Not with 'things'

That is why i believe persistence is vital. Sometimes our hearts need a bit of work, they have scarring and a buildup of muck, from all the failed attempts at achieving full satisfaction. Jesus has to chip away for awhile before he actually touches our heart, you feel little chinks of it, here and there, but you have to persist. Every time you feel pain, call out, just like a child to his loving parent, persist to call to him. Our father is quite capable of replacing pain with peace. I know because i have experienced it. It is in the hard times, that the Joy of the father can be felt so passionately, because what sort of 'thing' could bring such a happiness into our life when times are rough? My thoughts are, It'd have to be something pretty big. I haven't found anything other than Jesus that is capable.

So when things are hard, steadfastly persist in Jesus. And in nothing else. Bring your prayers and petitions to him, and he will replace them with peace and with a joy like nothing else. It's something BIG.