Be Still & Know

So, it's been a while since I've blogged though I said I was going to try and do it more regularly.

During Christmas Break, I kind of took some liberties and actually took a break (perish the thought, I know). But it was a good break. It gave me a chance to sit back, relax, enjoy my family, enjoy my apartment even and really enjoy the Lord.

So many times it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life, whether it's work, school or even recreational activities, that we fail to spend adequate enough time with God.

It can even get to the point where when we get the chance to spend time with God, we find anything and everything else to do than just look in His face and say, "Hi!"

First and foremost I thank God that He graced me with the time I had off--time truly can be a blessing.

Second, I want to regale my audience (if anyone's reading) with the important lesson about having a restful and peaceful state of mind and being amidst a chaotic livelihood.

It's January 10--the day Winthrop University students are supposed to return to class. In essence, it's the day we're supposed to get back on the grind.

For upperclassmen who are heavily involved in extracurricular activities and something additional (maybe ministry), it can be a hectic time.

Because my mind is so used to racing and my body used to always being on the go, it was difficult at first to 'calm down' during the break.

Finally, I stopped and remembered Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

God is in control. God is the Lord of our lives. God cares so much about us and our daily needs that He's Jehovah Jireh--the God Who Provides.

When Abraham was tested by God in Gen. 22, in which the Lord requested that Abraham sacrifice Isaac, Abraham obediently executed the order the Lord had commanded. Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac on the altar, but the Lord told him not to. Instead, Abraham sacrificed a ram and passed the test. There, Abraham called God Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:14).

Knowing that God's got your back--that He has everything taken care of, from the rent to the light bill to the gas in the car to the final exam to the new job to emotional healing to ministry work to true happiness--is true rest.

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him," (Psalm 37:7); "...The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him," (Lamentations 3:24).

Once I returned to Rock Hill, busyness tried to overtake my mind once again. But Tabernacle of Praise Church International entered into our Holy Convocation Week--a time to consecrate ourselves unto the Lord for the new year by spending special time with Him in fasting, prayer and reading the Word.

What an awesome time it was!

In this year of making deliberate progress, I want to deliberately spend more time with the Lord--deliberately rest in His safety--deliberately study more and more of His Word--deliberately love on Him as much as possible.

Busyness in life will come; it is inevitable in this chaotic, sinful world.

But rest in the Lord and peace of mind is also possible by trusting God and being filled with Holy Spirit.

"For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline," (2 Timothy 1:7-TNIV). Some versions say a "sound mind."

As we foray through 2011, let's devote ourselves to resting in the Lord. I've realized it's okay to take a break once in a while and tell the Lord, "God, I love you."

It's okay to even take a nap and linger in God's presence for more than five minutes.