Devo Series 4

Today marks a milestone for me, something that's never happened before in my adult life. I've gone an entire week without watching any sports. Crazy! I love competition (although my 10 year old is currently kicking my butt in Risk). However, there's one game I never win. It's the "What if" game.

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Read Psalm 46

 

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

 

[1] God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
[3] though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
    

[4] There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
[5] God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
[6] The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
[7] The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
    
    
[8] Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
[9] He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
[10] “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
[11] The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (ESV)

 

This passage presents such a powerful word picture that stirs our emotions. Imagine this psalm playing out like a movie. Mountains are crashing into a storm-tossed ocean. Nations clash in world war firing off volley after volley of heavy artillery. What makes these scenes so surreal is the context. Mountains were thought of as an immovable refuge. National governments and security measures provided safety and security for their people. Stability has dissolved in chaos.

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Our gut reaction to this kind of peril is one of two responses- fight or flight. Fight is about trying to regain control over an uncontrollable situation. As Ron Dunn says, it's like "running around trying to put a bandaid on every crack in the earth." Flight is about seeking escape- numbing pain through some kind of distraction (often for us, it's technology and media). What has been your response to the last week?

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Verse 10 gives us a simple directive- be still and know that He is God. When responding to chaos in my life, nothing is more unnatural than being still. And yet, look how God is described in this passage. He is the Lord of hosts, and He is with us. It is for this reason we can be still and be confident in chaos. It is for this reason we aren't held captive by the "What if" game. Do you know what happens when God's people respond in such an unnatural way? He is exalted among the nations!

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For thoughts on how to incorporate stillness into your life, check out this podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-hustle-end-hurry/id1480300467