This Devotional is part of our “Can’t Quarantine the Gospel” series where members of the church are contributing morning Quiet times during this time of Social Distancing. Today is Day 18 of our series. Any of the Devotionals can be read as a stand alone quiet time. You can see more devotionals here
Contents
God is Calling us to go Deeper
Sam Chevalier
Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
There are moments in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of waiting. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It can feel as if God has placed a wall around us where there are no new opportunities–simply inactivity. He is calling us to go deeper.
I work at a university in an IT department that is made up of 6 and we support a whole school, our team is one of the busiest, we cater to the not just future leaders but current leaders in this world. There is always a push to do more and be more, but when news of this possible lock down came, nothing.
During times like these, God is pulling us aside to fashion something new in us. It can feel like an isolation chamber designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a “task-driven workplace” believer. Our nature cries out, “You must do something”, while God is saying, “Be still and know that I am God.” You know that God has brought you into this space when He has removed so many things from your life and you cannot seem to change it. Our jobs have changed drastically, the world has changed drastically.
Q: Has this time allowed you to go deeper in your walk with God?
Q: Is your nature to always try to find things to do? If so, how can you “be still” during this time?
Psalm 139:3-5 (LEB)
3 You search out my wandering and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word yet on my tongue,
but behold, O Yahweh, you know it completely.
5 You barricade me behind and in front,
and set your hand upon me.
Most people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they try to calculate and control almost everything that will happen. However, when God wants to call us deeper, He brings us into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. This is God shepherding us and leading us to exactly where we need to be.
Psalm 23 :1-4
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
When days start to blur together I have to remember these promises, the Psalms that have kept me in times of desperation, anger and fretting. I know that My God is waiting for me to learn the lesson, leading me besides waters that are good, calling me deeper.
Psalm 94:18
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
Has God brought you to a place of being still? Be still and know that He really is God. Being still is not just a matter of inactivity; it is a place of complete trust. Our busybodies begin to slow down and something really special begins to happen when we stop seeking meaning in always doing. We no longer get our security in finding something to fix and we can be free to fully enjoy our walk with God and allow him to help us with what we are prioritizing in our lives. Maybe God wants to use this time to help us reprioritize for good. We do not want to leave this time of stillness not having learned how to go deeper in our walk with God, we don’t wan’t to leave not having learned how to be still. Perhaps this is a lesson necessary for us to learn in order to make it to the finish line. “Be Still” God knows exactly what he is doing and He ultimately want’s us to be with Him for all eternity.
Q: In what ways can you go deeper in your walk with God right now?
Q: What would your life indicate is your number one priority right now? Is God #1 Family #2
Q: Where do you need to reprioritize?
God will quiet the storm in your life if you go and ask him. He can help us all get our priorities straight. He can ensure we leave this time having learned exactly what we needed to. Let Jesus mold us, let Him mold you, let him do what he is trying to do in your heart. Allow ourselves to go deeper, you won’t regret it. There will always be more work, another client to talk to, a boss to impress, a project to complete, but now is the time to learn how to go deeper with God. Who knows when we will get another shot at this.
Mark 4:38
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
God is in control of all the weather in our lives and all the storms are meant to teach us something. Allow your faith to go deeper and remember that the answer to “don’t you care?” is always YES!