BE STILL, MY RESTLESS SOUL

by Beth Fore

“Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires
of your heart.  Commit your way
to the LORD; trust in him and he
will do this:  He will make your
righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the
noonday sun.  Be still before the
LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in
their ways, when they carry out
their wicked schemes.”

(Psalm 37:4-7 NIV)

Be Still, My Restless Soul

Be still, my restless soul
and persevere patiently.
God will some day reveal
what is now a mystery.

Be quiet, my wandering spirit,
and listen to God speak.
His words will strengthen you
when your resolve is weak.

Be at peace, my troubled heart,
and rest in Jesus’s arms.
He will carry your burdens,
and protect you from harm.

Be pure, my sinful body,
and don’t listen to Satan’s cries.
God’s Spirit will empower you
to resist his deceitful lies.

Be trusting, my doubting mind,
and believe in God’s promises.
God will be faithful and loving
and fill you with inner bliss.

Be submissive, my willful self,
and give in to God’s control.
God’s way is best for you.
He alone can make you whole.

written by Anna Beth Fore

*Delight in the Lord and commit your way to the Lord.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”  (Psalm 37:4-6 NIV)

Jehovah God created mankind and gave him the ability to make choices about his life and whom he will choose to serve. When we acknowledge that God is the one and only Sovereign whom we will worship and serve, we come to know Him intimately and He blesses us in bountiful ways. When we choose to obey His will over our own, God is delighted and favors us as His children and heirs. 

Man’s selfish nature and inward focus is the greatest barrier that separates him from God.  God is the great I AM, and He desires that every one will bow down and worship Him. When we choose God over ourselves, we give ourselves wholly to Him and He knows that we trust Him to do what is best for our lives to bring Him honor and glory and praise, so that all people and all things will worship Him.

When we trust in God, He says He will make our righteousness shine like the dawn. We cannot make ourselves righteous because we are sinners. Only a perfect sacrifice can be righteous before God! Jesus Christ is the ONLY perfect sacrifice, so He offered himself to be crucified on a cross so that His blood would be shed for all of mankind and His blood makes us righteous when we believe in Him and obey Him. 

*Christians are told to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7 NIV)

It is very difficult for human beings to be still and wait patiently. This must be an intentional trait we learn by practice and diligence. When we learn to be still, silent, patient, and quiet, we open our minds and hearts to hear God speak to us through his Holy Spirit. Then He reveals His mysteries to us, strengthens us, carries our burdens, and protects us from harm. He empowers us to resist Satan and his lies and He fills our hearts with joy!

When we are quiet and still and patient, we are waiting to hear God’s voice, so it is more likely we will hear Him when He speaks to us. In the stillness, we can offer ourselves to God, as a living sacrifice, to follow His will for our lives. God has a plan for our lives, and it IS the BEST plan for our life.  So, when we ask God to show us His will for our lives, we need to search carefully and be sure we are conforming to His will and not trying to get Him to conform to ours.

We come to truly know God by being still and quiet and spending time in his presence, seeking His will for our lives.

APPLICATIONS

1. What are some things you can do to avoid distractions when you are trying to be still before the Lord?
2. Ask yourself if you really do commit your way to the Lord. Write down some of the ways you have spent your time, energy, and resources during the past week. Then evaluate yourself and see if you have really committed your way to God.
3. Think back on some things you have prayed for in the past that took some time before you heard God’s answer.  What did you learn during these waiting periods? 
4. How can you encourage your children to wait on the Lord as they are learning to pray and be still?
5. How can you know that you are following God’s plan for your life rather than your own plan for your life?  

If you want to learn more about what it means to be a Christian or to become a Christian, click this link: https://woww.newlifebehavior.org/what-it-means-to-follow-jesus-how-to-become-a-christian/ If you have questions, please send us an email at nlbiministry@gmail.com.