Daily Advent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Tuesday, December 15, Evening
By Linda Henderson Cox
Be Still
Read Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
If ever there was a true statement, “These are the times that try men’s souls,” this period of time is surely it. We’ve lost spouses, siblings, and dear friends and in some cases were not able to participate in their celebration of life. Some have lost homes, income, meaningful employment, and peace of mind. We are having to endure an upheaval in life as we knew it, where it seems, as the saying goes, the inmates are running the insane asylum. Now the country is either burning down or drenched with flood waters. If only we could move the two together.
Is God trying to get our attention? I rather doubt that is the case, but it seems the perfect time for us to evaluate where we stand with Him. Psalms 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
It’s tough to be still and tougher still to attend to exaltation when it seems our world is going mad. But not attending to these things is robbing us of the very thing we seek: peace and calm. The sacrifices Jesus made to come to us as a baby made a way for our redemption, to give us new life, to give us peace surpassing anything we can imagine on our best day. This is what gives me strength: being still and knowing.
Prayer
Lord help us to know you, see you as a baby who grew to be the redemption of a lost world. Help us in our efforts to make the most of our present circumstances, to love one another, and to have before us always the promises that began in Your lowly manger. We pray in Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.
