Tag Archives: still

Prayer is Patient ~Day 1

31 Saturday Mar 2012

Posted by in 31 Days of Prayer Challenge, Abiding, Patience, Prayer, Presence, Still

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes prayer lacks words all together. Instead, it is simply BEING in the presence of God.

“Rest IN the Lord and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 37:7

You probably have first-hand experience in at least one aspect of prayer: God does not always answer our requests or our questions right away. His timing is not only different, but it is sovereign. Prayer is not always talking, interacting, speaking, expressing; sometimes prayer has no verbal form – it is heart-to-heart with God, being still in His presence.

Prayer ENJOYS the presence of God

Prayer is not in a hurry. If you enjoy something, you want to make it last. Unless you’re a 5 year old, you savor your ice cream: once it’s gone, it’s gone. Beautiful, breezy, sunny days are good for walks – but not the kind that make you sweat bullets and obliterate the scenery. Stars are amazing creations of God – we gaze up at them, amazed at their glory, and time disappears. A first-time Mom is in no hurry to put her newborn child in the hospital crib. She enjoys her son or daughter. These are special moments – time when the rush of humanity is still, and we stop to simply enjoy. They are moments when it’s easy to be patient.

…but can we enjoy the presence of God when the answer has not come yet…when patience gets more difficult to maintain?

Prayer lacks patience often. Why? Because prayer is rarely answered right away, in the exact way we wish. We lose sight of God’s presence and press for the response. Sometimes we feel we really  need the response! God’s silence is inflicting suffering on us! Yet even this can be enjoyed…

“Patience is enjoying the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings in order to give life to others.”

Quiet waiting…it goes against our fidgety soul’s nature. We feel so urged to move on that we wonder if we’ll last til the answer comes. Days and nights can turn into tormenting cycles of waiting and wondering. The very essence of prayer – the presence of God – is lost, out of sight, and this grieves God.

As we close this 31 Day Challenge on prayer today, be not weary in prayer. Patience will be a called-for ingredient in the prayer life and the daily life of every believer for the rest of their days. Be anxious for nothing…but in everything, give thanks…thanks for what? For the gift of the presence of God – that we can simply be quieted and rest in faith (the essential of prayer) that though we do not know what tomorrow holds, we believe in the One who holds tomorrow.

“…for this is the will of God concerning you.”

~Hannah

Patient Faith

17 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Faith, Patience, Stand Still, Submission, Surrender, Waiting

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” ~Hebrews 11:7

Much is said today about “combat faith” – we are encouraged to buckle on our armor, march out the front door, and storm the battlements of hell. And this is a vital part of the Christian walk. However, there is another type of faith that is just as important – patient faith. Look at Noah, for example, in Genesis 8:13: “And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.” Think about it – Noah and his family had been cooped up in the ark with a bunch of stinking animals for months!! They hadn’t set foot on solid ground in almost a year. I don’t know about you, but if I was in that situation, I would’ve been out the door of the ark the minute I saw the ground was dry! But that’s not what Noah did. The next couple verses tell us that he waited for God to give the okay – which didn’t occur until the twenty-seventh day of the second month – almost one month after he had seen dry ground. Did he wonder if God had forgotten them? I know I would’ve been tempted to think that! Did his faith ever waver? Not a bit. He stayed in the ark, patiently waiting on God’s timing. The next time you’re tempted to charge out and do what you think needs to be done, stop first and listen to that still small voice – maybe it’s time to just wait.

~Christen

Spiritual Refreshment

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Abiding, Renewed, Rest, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. ~ 1 Kings 19:7

Elijah was worn out – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The previous day had been a day of great victory. God had shown His superiority over the false gods of the Israelites in a dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel. You would think that Elijah would be rejoicing and praising God for the miracle that had occurred. But what do we see? The prophet fleeing to the desert and collapsing under a bout of suicidal depression. “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” Can’t you just hear the despair in his voice? Elijah feels all alone. His life has just been threatened. His fellow countrymen have turned their backs on their God. He is overcome by a crushing sense of failure and defeat.

But here, we see the incredible compassion of God, as He stoops down to touch His weary servant with rest. As Elijah slept under a juniper tree, the angel of the Lord awoke him and said, “Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” God doesn’t scold Elijah for not trusting in Him…He doesn’t tell Elijah to quit feeling sorry for himself and go get to work…instead, He provides rest and refreshment for the prophet. This is what God wants for us too. Rather than constantly pushing ourselves past the limits of our endurance, we need to step back every once in awhile and just rest. We need to give our bodies, our minds, and our spirits a chance to catch up with our hectic lives. When the journey is too great for you, when you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the little things – and sometimes the big things – just stop and allow God to refresh you.

Be Still

~Christen

Rest in Jesus

30 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by in God's Love, Love, Loving God, Music, Music Lyrics, Relationships, Waiting

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art:

I am finding out the greatness,

Of Thy loving heart!

Thou hast bid me gaze upon thee,

As Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole!

~

O how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

O how marvelous Thy goodness,

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee Beloved,

Know what wealth of grace is mine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine!

~

Simply trusting Thee Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart!

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessing,

Thine is love indeed!

~

Ever life Thy face upon me,

As I work and wait for Thee!

Resting neath Thy smile Lord Jesus,

Earth’s dark shadows flee!

Brightness of my Father’s glory,

Sunshine of my Father’s face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace!

(Words by Jean Pigott)

In the past two weeks, the words of this song have become precious to my soul. We alone can do nothing. Not by choice, or will, or imagination are we able to bring any good work to pass. It is the act of being. Being still, or rather, resting in the presence of Jesus, which produces the supernatural. It is only then we will experience and find out the greatness of that loving, Fatherly heart. Only then can we truly know the wealth of grace belonging to us – the certainty of promise! What beautiful words! We have certain knowledge that God’s promises are for us, and fulfilled in us! They are our treasures to claim. They allow us to behold the Lamb of God as He truly is. They cause His pure, unchanging love to satisfy completely! My heart even now is so full. So, so overflowing at the assurance of God’s satisfying love. Love no other lord or person can ever match! Love that satisfies deepest longings of the human heart, and meets, supplies abundantly for every – not just some – but every need. Lost in this love, I will lift my face to see His as I work for His glory, and wait for His next calling. Beneath His smile, I am at peace. Dear believer, we have the privilege of seeing the brightness of our Father’s glory, the sunshine of His face, the opportunity to ask Him to keep us abiding in His rest. We do not have to give up that place of rest…it is ours. He will give a continual filling of His grace. What blessedness and peace is ours that we do not hope for, but know assuredly we have the ability to rest in Jesus! Within that rest, His all-transforming power will make us whole. It is not in trying or striving, wrestling or running, that we become complete. Our wholeness comes in the stillness of being with Him – in the resting assuredly in His arms. In the knowledge that He and He alone can satisfy. Jesus, I am resting, resting – in joy – because of who You are! Amazing Love!!!

Be Blessed!

~Hannah

“Soul, be Still!”

11 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Endurance, Patience, Purification, Still, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

O troubled soul, beneath the rod,

Thy Father speaks, be still, be still.

Learn to be silent unto God,

And let Him mold thee to His will.

~

O praying soul, be still, be still,

He cannot break His plighted Word;

Sink down into His blessed will,

And wait in patience on the Lord.

~

O waiting soul, be still, be strong,

And though He tarry, trust and wait;

Doubt not, He will not wait too long,

Fear not, He will not come too late.

(Streams in the Desert, July 17th)

Be Blessed!

~T&H

Lam. 3:24-26 pt. 2

09 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Endurance, Grace, hope, Purification, Time, Trials, Trust, Uncategorized, Waiting

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lam. 3:24-26)

Several mornings ago when I read this, you might say my soul was “cast down.” Quite literally, I felt like giving up. There seemed to be questions looming up in my mind that felt too big to ever be answered…even by God. I felt the cold waters of doubt within me, and it seemed that the little trust I had grasped was slipping quickly out of reach.

As I asked God to give me a rhema, I told Him, “Lord, I need you to give me something that will bring my heart peace, even if the questions cannot be answered right now.” He was faithful…just as He always is. I walked away from that time wondering why I had ever doubted Him, yet faced with the inevitable fact that it’s life…I will doubt God, despite the fact that He is the most reliable relationship I will ever have!

What jumped out at me the most was the last verse: “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait…” Quietly wait? “Lord, that is asking waaaay too much!” I wanted to cry, and yet He gave me the calming reassurance, that although I was unable to do that on my own, He would make me able. Suddenly it dawned on me…again…yes, it had come before. Why had I not thought of it? God was emptying me of myself, so that He could be everything. He was asking me to quietly wait, as He purged me, that He might be made known to all people in all places around me!

photo credit: sarah stelzl

Dear believer, wait quietly for the Lord. Seize the few moments of silence to reflect on this: unless you allow God to pour all the “you stuff” out, he will never be able to completely fill you with Himself, and what good are you, full of the human pride we are all born with? Humble yourself with the realization that in your nothingness, he is completeness for you, and through you.

Quietly wait for Him, and in that waiting, continue to hope!

~Hannah

Performance

15 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by in Performance

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 57:2: “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth [all things] for me.”

Who is it that performs in your life?

I have never found myself to be adequate whether at home or work, sleeping or walking, talking or just being still. I cannot find myself adequate because, on my own, I do not know enough of God’s sovereignty  and plans. My inadequacy shows me my need to be bowed before the cross, crying out for direction, for purpose, for passion. At the foot of the cross I find Jesus. I find the One who performeth for me. I find One who always performs in perfection –(while covered in love and humility), because He is one with the Father and the Father with Him. And this divine abiding is offered to me! What joy to understand such depth in simplicity and to know it is God the Most High who performeth for me!

What is it for me to be still?

11 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by in bride-groom, Still, The Heart, Time

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

What is it for me to be still? A matter of time to let all voices cease?

What is it for me to be still? For my soul to be silenced and my spirit only commune with God?

What is it for me to be still? When in the hardest of life to know and feel a peace that passes my understanding?

What is it for me to be still? To be loved in such a way that only God (who, knowing every thought and sin of my being) can love me, and to receive this love descending on me?

What is it for me to be still? It is hearing only the voice of the bride-groom and sitting in His glory. It is knowing that I am His beloved. To be still is to hear from God in a way that is not usual — it is a special time through which His words, spoken to me, are thought-out and considered and meant only for me. When I have heard those intimate, timely words that only my Creator [would know] can speak to my heart, I have found that I have been still.

Be Blessed,

Tiffany

Sometimes When You’re Speechless…

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in Christian Disciplines, Christlikeness, Communion, Daily Living, Fellowship, Prayer, Relationships

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)

A year ago I was on a ten day trip to the Northern Peninsula of Michigan with a team of ten other young ladies. Our team leader handed each of us a card with a Scripture verse on it the first day we were there, and Romans 8:26 was what happened to be on mine. I remember looking at that verse and thinking, “What will I use this for?” As I look back now, I see how much I underestimated the infinite wisdom of Scripture. I taped the card inside my journal, and for months following that trip, read it each morning, and cried out to God for the words when I did not know how to pray.

Have you ever started praying for someone, or even for yourself, and suddenly realized you don’t even know what they/you need? Then there are other times when we feel God prompting us to pray, and aren’t sure why, or what for! I read this verse and smile. I smile at my ignorance a year ago. I laugh at the thought that I believed I would never be speechless. I groan inwardly when I realize that one who always has the words, is simply speaking from their mind…and that I myself stand there far to often! You know the verse “Be still, and know that I am God”…yes, we don’t stop to be still very often. We keep creating, defining, presenting the contents of our intellectual library, and God says “Stop! Be still, and look at me. I have the words…not you.”

Remember today, the Spirit makes intercession with groanings that you and I cannot will not, are unable to utter. Sometimes there is a place, a moment to be quiet, and say “I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to plead…Holy Spirit, intercede for me!” If you have never come to a place of not having the words…of not being able to produce the right lines, know that you are trapped still within your mental library of intellectualism…a virtual prison that is drowing, in it’s library silence, the voice of the Holy Spirit, who longs to intercede for you beyond what you can imagine.

Be still today…Know the voice of God…be willing to say “Lord, speak for me.”

Be Blessed!

~Hannah

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 89 other followers