Welcome to week 2 of, Praying Big Prayers to Our Amazing God. Donna is leading off our week of study with a prayer prompt that you may have difficulty with: Be still and know that I am God. We only say you may have trouble because we often have trouble being still. Be encouraged! Donna is sharing how being still is not the same as doing nothing. In unsettling times (like a pandemic), we can position our hearts to stand in awe of God, who He is: Amazing, Wonderful, Creator, Sustainer. Our Good Father is able. Able to usher in peace during a storm and able to give refuge, strength, and help in times of trouble. We only need to be still.
(If you would like to use our printable journal for week 2, you may download it be clicking HERE)
There is a difference between doing nothing and being still.
This past March my son sustained an injury to his ankle while at the skatepark. Those phone calls are never easy to get: your heart is racing; your mind is whirling, and I had to quickly “stop and run” to the foot surgeon. How exactly do you do that?
Stop and run that is?
There is a difference between doing nothing and being still.
We had thought that maybe it was a simple dislocation but when the ambulance backed into the bay this physical therapy mama knew that his ankle was broken. After all the hustle and bustle of testing was completed and his ankle was stable, we were then off to get settled into the room to prepare for surgery the next morning. As I waited the next morning for word from the operating room concerning this delicate surgery involving the growth plate, I prayed.
Later, a friend would share with me his version of what happened in the surgery suite as he assisted: “Well, Doc made the incision and pulled everything out of the way, and he stepped back and stood still. He observed and processed. It wasn’t that he was doing nothing, it was that he was making sure that he was prepared before he made his move.”
There is a difference between doing nothing and being still.
Psalm 46:10 NIV says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
In order to fully understand this verse, we must look at it within the context of the chapter. The psalmist is seemingly going through a hardship or some turmoil in his life (Can anyone relate?). Yet, in the context we read that God is our refuge, He is our home, He provides our security. In verse 10 when the author says, “Be still,” he is not referring to the stance of our body, but the stance of our heart.
You may recall last week when we explored how praying big is less about the words we say and more about the position of our hearts. We can stand still and position your heart, in awe of God.
It is not a call to relax, it is an urgent directive to remember who God is, even in unsettling times. The Psalmist says: Be Still! Stand in Awe! Stop Fearing! Know Him!
Know that He is God:
• Know that He is our refuge and strength (v1)
• Know that He is an ever-present help in times of trouble (v1)
• Know that He is within you and you will not fail (v5)
• Know that He will help you (v5)
• Know that He is with us (v7)
• Know that He will cease wars(v9)
• Know that He is our fortress (v11)
And once we know Him we can then see all that He is doing.
1 Samuel 12:16 “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!”
There is a difference between doing nothing and being still.
Pray with us: Lord, we trust that you are able. We only need to be still before you. Help us trust that you are our help in a time of trouble. Help us see what you are doing as we position our hearts to be still and know God. Amen
Our two-week prayer journey, Praying Big to Our Amazing God, utitlizes prayer prompts from the colorful and thoughtful new release, #Instaprayer, prayers to share, by Kelly O’Dell Stanley.
God has been speaking to me about “being still” repeatedly in the past couple of weeks. I smiled when I saw today’s topic and thought “Of course! It’s about being still!” Thank you for being another voice on something that God clearly wants me to grow in!
confirmation – it always makes me smile.
“There is a difference between doing nothing and being still.“ Being still is a verb—an action and position of our hearts and thoughts. Sometimes it is so hard to still our thoughts long enough to remember where God is—near. When we are still, our hearts and thoughts can settle into God’s truth.
we are certainly learning that our heart’s position is very important when we come to God in prayer. Being still is a verb 🙂 , yes, friend.
“There is a difference between doing nothing and being still.“ YES. But it’s a conscious stance/position, and we have to seek that, and the busier we are, the harder it is sometimes to find that place. I love the story about the surgeon. I feel like I’ve been in a “processing” phase for a while now, but I think God is leading me forward now. Love this post and love you and thank you!
So needed to read these words, Donna. Continuing medical issues have me being still but feeling frustrated. Frustrated because I feel like I need to be doing something. My husband keeps telling me, “you are not doing nothing, you are healing”. I need to be still and know God has a plan and purpose for this journey, and even though I can’t see visible signs, he is healing and renewing my body, strength and hope.
There is such wisdom in your husband’s words. Nancy, rest there in the healing. I spoke of that in our morning prayer time on Facebook and perhaps the one person God had in mind was you. We are lifting you in prayer. Lord, be the help in the healing that Nancy needs. Consume her heart with your peace as she is still before you, trusting you. Amen
Being still “is not a call to relax, it is an urgent directive to remember WHO God is.” Oh my, this speaks to me! My mind is rarely still, and most often it is whirling around fear and insecurity. This is a call to stop all that and remember to stop being afraid and know that He is God! Thank you Donna for these words!
Isn’t that awesome- an urgent directive! One not to be overlooked. One with great benefit to us.
Be still or “cease striving”. I find myself striving in so many areas of life to make things right. When most of the time, they are out of my hands. This morning as I was still and soaked in knowing God is God there was a blessed peace. A good reminder for me, I need to focus each day on the mighty God I can go to to with all things and allow Him to work them out according to His will. Thanks, Donna.
That peace is so refreshing.