Be Still

Be Still reminds us to lay down our burdens and simply rest in God.

• Psalm 46:10 (KJV) Be still, and know that I [am] God…
• Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
• John 14:6 (TPT) Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.
• John 15:4 (TPT) So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.

A prophetic download from LaShawn Dobbs is connected to this. It’s called “Be Still.”

Be. Still. And. Know. I AM. God. 
Be. Still. And. Know. I AM. With. You.
Be. Still. And. Know. I. Care.
Be. Still. My. Child.
Be. Still.
Be.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (AMPC) For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalms 46:10a (TPT) “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.” 

My Pastor asked us to join him while he prayed this scripture on Sunday. This morning while laying and reflecting on Psalm 46:10 I could hear Papa say, I AM with you. I care. 

At times we could feel like we’re all alone in what we’re GrOwing through. He comes to remind us we are not alone. He is with us and He does care. He has not asked us to try to figure it out on our own. He is our very present help.

He is with us in the storm.
He is with us in midst of the battle and He is fighting for us.

A word called “Follow the Beat of My Heart” from Elisa Eaton of Waiting in the Wings is connected to this.

1 John 4:18 (TPT) Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.

Beloved, be led by the sound of the beat of My heart. Resist the call of the world, which seeks to guide you through fear, guilt, and shame. You are My delight, and I created you for relationship with Me. Knowing Me is about so much more than a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s about more than work, projects, deadlines, and commissions. 

Although I have placed purpose within you, your work in this world is still an avenue for your personal connection with Me. I have ordained that each day and every experience would provide you with opportunities to explore the depth of My heart. When you give in to the fear that you are performing wrong or disappointing Me, it creates unnecessary walls of separation between us. Remember: I desire to work with you, in you, and through you. Release the desire to determine what this journey must look like, for My plans for you cannot remain in the box of your understanding. Allow Me to lead and let us move together, always together, beloved.

Therefore, cease from striving and worrying. Fear not, for you do not have to go it alone. Take My hand, and let me lead you in this wondrous dance called life. Lay your head upon My chest, bask in the songs I’m singing over you, and let your feet be moved by their melody. Allow My Presence to intertwine with every area of your life. As you yield to My constant leading, joy, peace, and hope will overflow.

Psalm 46:10 (NASB) “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

A Meditation of the Word called “Renewing Our Focus” from Elisa Eaton of Waiting in the Wings is connected to this.

Psalm 46:10 (VOICE) “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.

When we are yoked with our Creator, there are moments when we’re not going at the same speed that He is. When we are out of alignment with Him, we can feel it as tug upon our soul. Sometimes that tug is gentle, and at other times, when we are insistent in our striving, that tug is much more firm. “Stop striving,” He calls. “Stop pulling again My yoke. It’s time to come and sit at My feet, and just rest. It’s time to remind yourself of Who is leading.” 

This call is reminiscent of Psalm 46:10, where God tells us to “be still and know” that He is God. When we dig deeper into the Hebrew of this text, there is beautiful insight into what God is asking us to do in the moments when we feel that tug upon our souls. The command “be still” in Hebrew is raphah (Strong’s H7503), which means “to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.” One definition according to the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon is “to leave off anything, e.g. a work begun, Neh. 6:8… Psalm 46:11 ‘leave off your own attempts and know.’” 

Think of a field hand diligently working the soil in a field. Their supervisor suddenly calls out to stop work and take break. So the field hand immediately stops, lets go of the tool in his hand, and walks away to take a break. In much the same way, when God tells us to “be still,” He’s calling us to stop striving over a matter in our lives and come into a place of rest.

Yet there’s a second layer to this call. God asks us to “be still and know” that He is God. Not only must we stop striving, we must be intentional to realign our focus on God. In Psalm 46:10, the Hebrew word for “know” is yada (H3045). Yada alludes to a type of knowledge that involves intimate perception of something. Yada is also used euphemistically for the intimacy between spouses. (Genesis 4:1 says that Adam “knew” his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore their son Cain.) When we really comprehend a person or matter, we obtain intimate knowledge. We gain a unique clarity of perception.

In 1 Corinthians 13:11-12, Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (NKJV). When we feel the call to “be still and know,” God is calling us to realign our focus in that moment. This is a precious gift, an opportunity for us to enter the Holy of Holies and have a “face to face” moment with Him. This is a call to reconnect with the Source of Love.

When we are striving, there is misalignment in our spiritual vision and a misperception of love over a particular matter. Clarity can only be found when we’re seeing the matters of life the way that God sees them. By the flesh, we have a cloudy, distant perception of life, but with God, we gain a full level of disclosure. 

Are you anxious and afraid over a matter? Do you feel alone and without answers or help? Or perhaps, you feel exhausted and weak, facing a challenge in your life to which you feel at a disadvantage. It’s time to “be still and know.” It’s time to reconnect with your Creator and remember that He has everything under control. Let His love and peace wash over you, and allow Him to give you fresh revelation for the road ahead.

In Matthew 11:29-30, our Savior says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (TLV). The concept of yoking that this Scripture alludes to refers to how two oxen are yoked together in order to drag a load as efficiently as possible. Custom fitting of the yoke for oxen of unequal size and strength allows them both to carry a burden in unison without one oxen having to drag the other.

As we are yoked together with Christ by the Spirit, the pairing may seem to be uneven when we compare ourselves with Him. However, when we accept the yoke of the kingdom of heaven—God’s rule and reign in our lives—we are embracing the instruction of our gentle and humble Savior through the Holy Spirit. His understanding of perfect love empowers us to share the weight of heavy burdens and carry them with His help and strength. We don’t have to go this life alone. And when we walk in step with Christ, our yokemate, our spirits will feel free and as light as a feather.

The lyrics to Housefires’ song “The Way” is connected to this. The song reminds us that God is our fortress, portion, hiding place, provider—our everything. Our belief and trust in who God is to us is the foundation of our faith and critical to every moment of our lives.

A series of Prophetic Nuggets from “Daily Downloads from Heaven” by Meghan Williams are connected to this. They’re based on Psalm 91:1-16 (TPT):

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you. Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil launched against you. Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed. you will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm. If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you and keep you from stumbling. You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath your feet! For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: “Because you have delighted in me as my great lover, I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble. I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast. You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”

The first Prophetic Nugget is called “Rest in the Safety of My Embrace.”

Psalm 91:1 (AMP) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].

Beloved, rest in the safety of My embrace. For I AM an impenetrable fortress of protection. This does not mean troubles will never come, for they inevitably will, but it is a reminder that your ability to navigate those rocky waters is with you always. That comes through Me.

Therefore, there is no need to tremble in fear, or stress yourself with anxiety. Cast your cares on Me, beloved, for I care for you. Any semblance of control you think you have is but an illusion anyway, so yield yourself into My hands. Trust Me.

The second Prophetic Nugget is called “I AM YHVH Manowc (the Lord your Refuge).”

Psalm 91:2-3 (AMP) I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!” For He will save you from the trap of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.

Beloved, I AM YHVH Manowc – the Lord your refuge. I AM your safe place in good times and in bad. I AM the One who will never desert you, nor change My heart toward you. I AM steadfast, and I AM fully able. Rest in Me.

[Repeatedly it’s been highlighted to me how often God directs us to “rest” – “rest in Him”, “rest in His love” – simply to rest. He says it so often that I had begun to wonder if maybe the problem was me. That *I* wasn’t hearing correctly because what I was hearing was so often the same. But just as that thought moves me to a place of striving from a place of yielded listening, He told me that He’s reminding us exactly because our natural inclination is towards striving rather than rest. To learn to rest – to fully yield to Him, takes discipline and repetition. So yes, He’s repeating Himself. He’s doing so because we need the constant, gentle reminders so that we don’t fall into the trap of relying on self rather than yielding to Him. May we be intentional to stay in a place of rest, and to receive His gentle nudges with the love they’re intended.]

The third Prophetic Nugget is called “Place of Safety.”

Psalm 91:4 (AMP) He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, And under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.

Beloved, I will shelter you in My love, and hide you within My bosom. Find your place of safety in My arms – within the sphere of My tender, loving care. For I AM good, and I love My children. I will not stand idly by as by as calamity breaks down your door, for I AM with you, and I sustain you. 

The fact that I AM steadfast and faithful from generation to generation means you can trust Me. For I AM the same yesterday, today, and forever, and I AM good. So make your place of safety one that’s found in Me.

The fourth Prophetic Nugget is called “Fear Not.”

Psalm 91:5-6 (AMP) You will not be afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.

Beloved, refuse to fall into the trap of fear. For there will always be something that appears to be looming – something wanting to intimidate you and convince you of certain defeat. And those things could be legitimate concerns if you didn’t know Me, and you weren’t Mine, but you do, and you are.

I AM bigger and stronger than any foe that might come against you. No situation is so complex that I cannot find a way through. No opposition is formidable enough to scare Me away. And no plot against you is so clever that it can catch Me unaware. I AM able, and you are Mine, so fear not.

The fifth Prophetic Nugget is called “I AM Good to My Word.”

Psalm 91:7-8 (AMP) A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But danger will not come near you. You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes And witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High].

Beloved, My right hand upholds you. Watch as I walk you through the days of trial. For when you surrender yourself into My care, surely you will see My hand at work. Would a loving earthly parent abandon their beloved child to a tempest? Or leave them to burn within a fiery blaze? Not if it was within their power to stop it!

Then surely you must know that I would do at least the same. For if those earthly parent are made in My image and reflecting My likeness, do you think I would do less than they would? Absolutely not. I AM a good Father. I love My children fiercely. I have promised never to leave or forsake you, and I AM good to My word. So rest and trust in Me.

The sixth Prophetic Nugget is called “Dwell in Safety with Me.”

Psalm 91:9-10 (AMP) Because you have made the Lord, [who is] my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.

Beloved, choose Me. The shelter of My wing is available for you, but you must choose Me. I will not force Myself on you, but I AM here – ready to hold you close. Just as you can choose to stand under an umbrella or choose to step out from under it, so you can decide if you’d like to yield to My protection or if you prefer something or someone else.

Resist the urge to rely on yourself and your own abilities to control the outcome. Refuse to try to finagle your own earthly solutions. Instead look to Me, come to Me, and then trust Me to lead. I’m fully able to bring solutions to you, or grant favor and open doors on your behalf. So trust Me, and dwell in safety with Me.

The seventh Prophetic Nugget is called “Jehovah Tsaba (the Lord of Hosts).”

Psalm 91:11-12 (AMP) For He will command His angels in regard to you, To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They will lift you up in their hands, So that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone.

Beloved, I AM Jehovah Tsaba – the Lord of Hosts, God of angel armies – and I AM for you. All of heaven is at My command, and I move on your behalf because of My great love for you. So resist the urge to be afraid of what man or nature can do, for I AM fully prepared to take care of you. 

Whether I lift you out of trouble or give you grace to walk right through, I promise I will never leave you nor turn a deaf ear to your cry. For I cherish each one of My children – I know your very frame. I’ve numbered every hair on your head, so never doubt that I will move on your behalf, or that you’re somehow beneath My notice. For you are the apple of My eye, which is why I am ferociously mindful of all concerning you.

The eighth Prophetic Nugget is called “Trust My Perspective.”

Psalm 91:13-14 (AMP) You will tread upon the lion and cobra; The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never]. 

Beloved, even as you walk through the times of trouble and things that threaten your safety, still I AM in your midst. I hold you securely both in good times and bad – in easy and in challenging, I AM with you through it all. So resist the urge to fear or to react rather than respond from a place of peace and love.

My love casts out all fear, and the understanding of who I AM (and who I have made you to be) lift you above circumstance. As you rest in the knowledge that any challenge you encounter is one I will lead you through, you can be at peace regardless of outcome. You are spiritual creatures, so refuse to allow the physical to be your only focus and instead trust My perspective, which sees all.

The ninth Prophetic Nugget is called “I Hear Each Petition.”

Psalm 91:15-16 (AMP)“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life I will satisfy him And I will let him see My salvation.”

Beloved, I hear each petition addressed to Me. I do not ignore even one. You call, I answer. It’s as simple and beautiful as that. However, much like a child who asks for dinner than demands to go to their favorite restaurant, you do not get to control how I answer your request.

Trust that I see things you do not see. Trust that I will work all things for good. Trust that My motivations are loving. Because I do, I AM, and they are. In the same way that the loving parent might choose to feed their child healthier food made from home, or simply to so to save the cost of eating out so they can also provide for the roof over their heads because the parent sees things the child is blissfully unaware of – trust that I see all and am leading you rightly.

During the creation of this piece, God clearly gave a vision of a feather. It symbolizes a stillness and rest as well as a weightless sense of having been unburdened. The simplicity of the art represents the ease of having released cares and worries, and simply taking time to “be.”

Father, thank You for not simply being available to shoulder our cares and concerns, but for actively instructing us to cast them on You. May we be intentional to simply be still – to cease striving – and to know You for who You are: God – large and in charge and deeply in love with us. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy, You are truly wonderful beyond words.