Be Still & Know by Steven Curtis Chapman
"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me."
--Psalm 131:2--
LORD, I'M SLOWLY BEGINNING to understand. Until my heart is quiet in the Your presence:
You can't gently touch my heart with Your love . . .
convict me with Your truth . . .
extend Your grace and strength to me . . .
or grant me the riches of Your wisdom.
In order to draw from You, my spirit must first be quieted of all it's noise.
The distractions that crowd my mind need to be eliminated. The inner voice that is constantly reminding me of all the needs left unmet needs to be stilled. The worries and fears that pull my heart in a dozen directions need to be turned over to You in trust and prayer.
Help me bring my heart to this place when my schedule is too full, when I'm overwhelmed, or I'm wearing thin. Help me trust that when I let go of all my cares and responsibility for a few minutes of enjoying Your presence, You are enabling me to better perform the desires of Your heart through my life.
Only here, in this calm and quietness of spirit, can I hear Your voice . . . and only when I can hear Your voice can I truly serve, honor, glorify and bless Your heart.
You can't gently touch my heart with Your love . . .
convict me with Your truth . . .
extend Your grace and strength to me . . .
or grant me the riches of Your wisdom.
In order to draw from You, my spirit must first be quieted of all it's noise.
The distractions that crowd my mind need to be eliminated. The inner voice that is constantly reminding me of all the needs left unmet needs to be stilled. The worries and fears that pull my heart in a dozen directions need to be turned over to You in trust and prayer.
"In experiences of solitude [when our hearts are quiet] we gently press into the Holy of Holies, where we are sifted in the stillness. Painfully, we let go of the vain image of ourselves in charge of everything and everybody. Slowly, we loosen our grip on all those projects that to us seem so significant. Gently, we become more focused and simplified. Joyfully, we receive the nourishment of heavenly manna." (Richard J. Foster)
Help me bring my heart to this place when my schedule is too full, when I'm overwhelmed, or I'm wearing thin. Help me trust that when I let go of all my cares and responsibility for a few minutes of enjoying Your presence, You are enabling me to better perform the desires of Your heart through my life.
Only here, in this calm and quietness of spirit, can I hear Your voice . . . and only when I can hear Your voice can I truly serve, honor, glorify and bless Your heart.
"Rest. Rest. Rest in God's love. The only work you are required now to do is to give your most intense attention to His still, small voice within." (Madame Jeanne Guyon)
