I am his

Submitted by christopher on Fri, 2007-09-07 11:34

I skimmed all the NIV bible verses with the word "still" in them.  Here are some that caught my attention:











I was looking for verses where God or Jesus were instructing someone to be "still" so that God could work.  I was surprised to find only Old Testament references that fit this.  Why?

From my previous bog, "hurried righteousness," I came away feeling that I needed make more time, so that I could live my life with God, or, as the Bible puts it, He live his life in me.  In other words, I feel that I have been taking time out with God, much like I am taking "time out" with my wife -- and she's not satisfied.  Why should she be?  Why should He, or I, be satisfied?  What if we didn't have to "make" time for each other, but rather we always had time for each other -- and I mean really had it, and took advantage of it frequently, and for the smallest reasons and desires.

Jesus appears to be a very busy man, yet he never seems hurried.  He even took time out when others felt it was especially important that he work.  And things always worked out for Jesus.

Let's see... how do I put this thought?  Jesus was still (at rest) in the Father, and the Father was "at work" in Him.  I think this is what I'm after.  This seems to be the message of the Gospel.  I am in Christ, and Christ is in me.  I am His, and He is mine.

I KNOW THIS!!!  WHY DO I FAIL TO BELIEVE IT!?

 

 

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adam's picture

adam says:

The NASB translates Psalm 46:10 as "Cease striving and know that I am God".  Our stillness is not simply stopping our business.  It is surrendering ourselves.  We cannot win the battle by our might.  God says "Be still, Cease striving, Stop trying so hard, you cant do it. Stop and watch me do it."  When we stop trying so hard by our own power is when we see miracles happen.  When we stop fighting we can watch God win the battle. Our salvation is our surrender.  "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psa 46:10)

christopher's picture

christopher says:

There is a serious disconnect between the worldly (not necessarily meaning sinful) and the spiritual self.  When I am busy trying to accomplish my worldly work, be it my job, or my grades, etc., I find that my time to let God do His "spiritual" work in me, is nearly obliterated -- even if I'm spending time reading the bible and praying.

willowblythe's picture

willowblythe says:

How can we be in the world but not of it? I wish Jesus' admonishment came with examples. Does He want us to cease from our worldly work? Or is there some way we can perform worldly work, be it our job or just tasks around the house, with a spiritual mind?

rww's picture

rww says:

The following is an excerpt from an article by Luanne Austin.

 

The Celts did not distinguish between religion and everyday life. Their love of Christ only enriched their innate love for beauty, the Earth, each other, God’s creatures.

In her book, "Every Earthly Blessing," Esther de Waal describes a woman’s morning on the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. As the woman lights her fire, she prays, "I will kindle my fire this morning/In the presence of the holy angels of heaven." As she washes her face, she prays, "The palmful of God of Life/The palmful of the Christ of love/The palmful of the Spirit of Peace/Triune/Of grace."

As she makes her bed, she prays, "I make this bed/In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,/In the name of the night we were conceived … " All day long there are prayers of thankfulness, praise and protection for the fields, home, family, meals, material items, livestock, chores. When the woman banks the fire for the night, she prays, "As I save this fire tonight/Even so may Christ save me … "

"Prayer is not separated from singing or working or any other aspect of life," writes de Waal. Every moment of every day is lived in the presence of God and all the saints, so that every activity is seen as a way to God. Since God cares for his world and everything in it, work is a partnership with him, "something through which he may be better known," she writes.

"Celtic Christianity is deeply incarnational," writes de Waal. "It is through his world, in its totality, however mundane and down to earth, that God reveals himself."

christopher's picture

christopher says:

Interesting that you should post this tonight.  We just finished a social meeting with other believers.  One woman shared about how she used to try to make herself spend at least a half our each morning praying and reading her bible.  I could only agree as she described the frustration and failure that she experienced.  It wasn't until she gave up trying to "do" a relationship with God, that she began to discover God.

Folks talk about having a "relationship" with God, yet try to actualize it in acts of homage.  God wants me to know him as he knows me.

My concept of "doing" a relationship with God fell to pieces while while we were missionaries in the Philippines.  Ironically, it also came together there, as I began to realize how desperate the spiritual warfare between Christ and Satan is.  But gradually I began to realize that any time I depend my life in Christ on my own actions, I am depending my salvation on the arm of flesh -- setup for failure.

So, live with God, not just visit God.  Great idea... and all from the Daily News Record! 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

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