Be Still

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A compilation FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.—Psalm 37:7

What exactly does it mean to “rest in Jesus”? It means trusting that once you have asked Jesus to provide solutions to your problems or to help you with the work at hand, He will take charge and do just that. It means trusting that He will show you what you can do to help the situation, that He will empower you to do your part, and that He will do the rest, whatever you can’t do. It means stepping back from your problems or work, shutting out the world around you, and letting your spirit be strengthened through communion with Him.

In short, resting in Jesus means turning matters over to Him and then trusting Him for the outcome. That way, you’re not under such pressure, because He is carrying the weight, not you. You’re still busy‚ but your most important work is the spiritual part, the praying, believing, and trusting. When you focus on that, you set wheels in motion in the spiritual realm that have the potential to bring about far greater results in the physical realm.—Maria Fontaine

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.—Isaiah 30:15

God does not stand afar off as I struggle to speak. He cares enough to listen with more than casual attention. He translates my scrubby words and hears what is truly inside. He hears my sighs and uncertain gropings as fine prose.—Timothy Jones

My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.—Exodus 33:14

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.—Psalm 55:22

Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.—Unknown

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.
—Edith Willis Linn

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. … And ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.—Matthew 11:28–30

Oh, how divinely sweet it is to come into the secret of His presence, and abide in His pavilion!—David Brainerd (1718–1747)

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:7

‘A little while with Jesus—
oh, how it soothes the soul,
and gathers all the threads of life
into a perfect whole.’—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961)

You are going to get more done if you will spend more time in “the closet,”3 alone with God. Unless you get quiet and try to seek the Lord, how are you ever going to get anything from the Lord? I am fully convinced that I’ve gotten more from the Lord alone and quiet than any other way, because He can talk to you alone, and you can give Him your full attention and the reverence due Him, and you’re listening.

Even Jesus had to get up at the break of day before His disciples, and walk out across the hills or up in the mountain to get alone with God and get His orders from His Father.4 If Jesus Himself had to do it, how much more we need to do it!

You’re going to have to get quiet by yourself—somewhere, somehow, sometime—if you’re going to hear from the Lord. You’ve got to know you can’t do it, and be desperate for God’s answer, and stop everything else, and listen!

(Prayer:) So help us, Jesus, to remember that we can’t go on without the heavenly vision You give. We all need more quiet time alone with You, to rest and nestle in Your arms and partake of You, to just have You alone to think about and pray about, and to get close to You without all the other distractions. Thank You, Jesus.—David Brandt Berg


Published on Anchor February 2014. Read by Simon Peterson.
Music by Michael Dooley. TFI