Thursday, November 24, 2011

Be Still


Advent Devotional by Pat Andersen


“Be still and know that I am God. I am exalted
among the nations. I am exalted in the earth.”
—Psalm 46:10—
My assignment for the Lay Ministry School was to write a “homily.” The scripture “Be still and know that I am God” was the thought that kept going through my mind. There are so many distractions that drown out the silence. Our lives are filled with responsibilities, jobs, families, all of which give people many reasons not to take the time to listen to the voice within.
The song “Softly and Tenderly” tells us that Jesus is calling each of us, not over a loud speaker in some auditorium, but quietly in our hearts, describing how God’s spirit is working within each person right where they are. It is in the silence that we can listen to what God is leading us to do and sometimes we turn on the distractions of life to avoid hearing God, but He is still there.
God is like the ever flowing babbling brook we enjoy in the mountains. His presence is always there in spite of the world’s distractions in which we immerse ourselves. In all areas of one’s life, to “be still and know that I am God” is such a reassurance and comfort, like coming home to where you know you are loved. To refill our souls with God’s ever present unconditional love is there for all of us to experience. It is in the silence that God is heard and in the hearing that we know where God will send us.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, you know what’s in our hearts: our joys, sorrows, concerns and the busyness of our every day lives. Help us to be still and feel your presence, your direction, your purpose, your comfort and most of all your love each and every day throughout this Advent season and always. Amen.

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