I was restyling all night with my thoughts trying to find the words to post on my blog. In frustration, I gave up and ended my night saying, “I will update my blog tomorrow or maybe next week.”
It was 12:14 am. I suddenly awakened from a restful sleep, sensing God had something to say to me. In a matter of seconds, Psalm 46 came to mind. I turned on the light and began to read. Although I am very familiar with this magnificent, comforting psalm, I read it deliberately and prayerfully.
The tenth verse arrested my soul: “Be still and know that I am God.” In the quiet of the night, I knew God was revealing something that I desperately needed to know. I prayed, asking God to open up the meaning of the verse so that I might receive His fullness and then I returned to bed.
The next morning I opened the Bible and read Psalm 46:10 from another translation. “Cease serving and know that I am God.”
As soon as I read these words, “cease striving,” I knew what God was saying to me. Though I know better, I have a tendency to strive on my own strength and energy. Let me tell you, that’s exhausting, frustrating, and ultimately not very productive in God’s scheme. As long as you think you have to perform a certain way to please God, you are in subtle conflict with Him.
I breathed a sigh of spiritual relief as I saw the futility of my attempts to carry out God’s commands with my resources and His amazing adequacy for every demand. I can “cease striving” to be holy and righteous, because “in Christ” I already am Holy and righteous. I don’t have to strain to gain God’s approval, because he already loves me unconditionally.
Do you see how this removes the struggle? Do you understand how this can help you to relax and rest in the all-sufficiency of God’s grace? Christ, who indwells you through the Holy-spirit is your peace, strength, comfort, wisdom, hope, joy and guide.
You have all this because you have Christ.
It was 12:14 am. I suddenly awakened from a restful sleep, sensing God had something to say to me. In a matter of seconds, Psalm 46 came to mind. I turned on the light and began to read. Although I am very familiar with this magnificent, comforting psalm, I read it deliberately and prayerfully.
The tenth verse arrested my soul: “Be still and know that I am God.” In the quiet of the night, I knew God was revealing something that I desperately needed to know. I prayed, asking God to open up the meaning of the verse so that I might receive His fullness and then I returned to bed.
The next morning I opened the Bible and read Psalm 46:10 from another translation. “Cease serving and know that I am God.”
As soon as I read these words, “cease striving,” I knew what God was saying to me. Though I know better, I have a tendency to strive on my own strength and energy. Let me tell you, that’s exhausting, frustrating, and ultimately not very productive in God’s scheme. As long as you think you have to perform a certain way to please God, you are in subtle conflict with Him.
I breathed a sigh of spiritual relief as I saw the futility of my attempts to carry out God’s commands with my resources and His amazing adequacy for every demand. I can “cease striving” to be holy and righteous, because “in Christ” I already am Holy and righteous. I don’t have to strain to gain God’s approval, because he already loves me unconditionally.
Do you see how this removes the struggle? Do you understand how this can help you to relax and rest in the all-sufficiency of God’s grace? Christ, who indwells you through the Holy-spirit is your peace, strength, comfort, wisdom, hope, joy and guide.
You have all this because you have Christ.
3 comments:
Isn't it good when God speaks...and we stop sleeping to listen?
In AA they say "Let Go and Let God"
you have blessed me again...I know I haven't been here in a while, but I needed to hear this....
"cease striving" WOW
Albert
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