I remember as a young child, there were many times I found my seat beside Mama on the front pew of the Church. As you know, boys will be boys, and I sure fit the bill. I struggled with being as still, as the requirements called for in a church meeting. I had “ants in my pants,” and if I couldn’t settle down enough to get a little shut-eye while my Daddy was preaching, I usually invited the “wrath of Mama” sometime during the Church service. There were times that a trip outside was required where we would carry out our ‘Hickory Dance’ ritual(I always hated a switch!). But usually correction came with what I call, a ‘twist-a-pinch’, after I refused the warning to “Be Still!”. Just in case you don’t know what a ‘twist-a-pinch’ is, that’s when you pinch a little piece of flesh and twist at the same time. I know – I was abused!(Truth is, I – just like most of you – probably needed a few more ‘twist-a-pinches’ in my time.) It was hard – and still is – to Be Still! Yet there are times when it is necessary. Why?
1) It’s Safe! Too many times we find ourselves acting on our own without God. We are prone to get anxious, especially in difficult times, and get out of step with God. Remember, if you decide to step out there on your own, you are “on your own!” (Boy, that’s Deep stuff, ha!)
2) It’s Best! Remember when Moses is standing at the Red Sea, with the Egyptian army right on his tail. Moses said to to the people “…be still and see the salvation of the Lord.”(Exodus 14) It was the Best option!
3) It’s a Guarantee! When I can allow things to be placed in God’s hands and timing, I will always come out on the winning side.
Now don’t take what I’m saying in this blog, and use it as an excuse for laziness. But, for those of us that are a ‘Type A’, aggresive type disposition, Being Still is one of the most difficult things that we will ever do. I’ve messed up so many things by acting on my own. Yet, as I have maybe mellowed a little in life, I find that one of the greatest actions that I can take is the act of “Being Still.”
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”