Be Still part 5
I've been Ranting a lot recently about how less is more sometimes. About how sometimes the least you can do is the most you can do. But that's actually NOT what I want to say tonight. Because to end this Rant series about being still--calming the storm inside so that what's REALLY inside can come out--its important that we understand that being still is the calm BEFORE the storm, so to speak. And I'm going to quote 1 Samuel 30:6, as I often do, because its one of my favorite memory verses... and because it fits. "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." There was a big old storm raging around David. The enemy had come in and stolen everything that was important to everybody in the camp. They were so distraught that they were going to kill David. But look at what David did: He encouraged himself in the Lord His God. He didn't tell God how big the storm was, he told the storm how big God was. And then he took that encouragement, and he went out and did something with it. Read on in 1 Samuel chapter 30 and you get to verse 18, which says, "And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives." See, it wasn't just encouragement for encouragment's sake. It wasn't David just trying to make himself feel better. He was distraught, and he had reason to be. It kind of drives me nuts when people say things like, "That's not something to get upset about!" Really? Because I sure am upset about it. So either you're wrong, or my feelings are invalid. And either way, you attacking me for feeling what I feel isn't going to help anybody. But I digress. David had good reason to be upset. Both of his wives were gone, along with everything else that mattered to anyone else. Sometimes when I find myself in a situation where the problem is clear and the solution is clear--The Amalekites stole people and property. Go get it back--I want to leap into action. But David didn't do that. He stayed still. He asked the Lord what he should do. And when the Lord told him to go get it back... he went. And he got it back. So being still and knowing that God is God... that God is supreme, and has things under control... doesn't mean don't do anything. Remember how meekness is not weakness? It is strength under control. We don't have to run around like chickens with their heads cut off when we know what God wants us to do. And since God is love, and love never fails... if God tells you to do it you can rest assured that He will bring it to pass. David recovered ALL that the Amalekites had carried away. Nothing was lost. But if David had fallen apart when things looked bad... same story, different ending. My point is: you don't be still and then never do anything. That's not what rest is about. Rest is not inactivity. Rest is Holy Spirit directed activity. And doing what the Spirit of Love directs you to do means only one thing. Because the Spirit of Love will only ever direct you to DO one thing: Love. So encourage yourself in the Lord. Be still and know that He is God. Fill yourself to overflowing with the love He has filled you with... and then let it out! Love the hell out of people!