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Distracted By Stillness
Devotional for Friday, July 31, 2009 by Bethany Hayes
With summer here, the stormy winter and chilly evenings of past months have quickly been forgotten. One morning, however, my heart felt like a lingering storm. Numerous needs -- my own and others' -- were crashing in on me, like an unexpected whirlwind.Casting these burdens on the Lord, I was suddenly awakened to a scene quietly unfolding outside my window. Like a fitting backdrop, tall fir trees lining our neighbour's fence stood motionless, being what they were created to be. Without a word, early summer flowers were telling of their Creator's faithfulness and love for beauty. Soon, a sparrow entered to complete the picture, not planting seeds or gathering food into a barn, but happily discovering and enjoying what our heavenly Father had provided for it. This hushed scene struck me with its peacefulness -- a sharp contrast to my stormy heart.
Distracted by this stillness, my thoughts turned to a particular storm in the lives of the disciples -- one in which their Maker slept on a pillow. The disciples weren't sleeping. With an unexpected storm crashing in on them, their lives were in turmoil. But when they woke Jesus, He commanded the stormy winds and waves to be still. They obeyed.
Creation busies itself by resting in its Creator's authority and by obeying the same command given to us:
Psalm 46:10a - Be still, and know that I am God. (KJV)
He is God, and that's all we need to know to be still.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the rest that You have promised to those who remember that You are God. Knowing who You are, we seek Your strength to be still. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Bethany Hayes <bethany828@comcast.net>
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Today's Music:
Safe In The Arms Of Jesus.