Still part 3
We seem to think that the harder we try, the more we'll accomplish. Which, I guess, makes sense to the carnal mind. And I'm not saying we shouldn't try hard. I'm a big believer in maximum effort. But I also believe that love IS the maximum effort that you can give. Love is giving everything you have and everything you are. I always say, "Do your best and forget the rest." Give it everything you've got and it'll either be enough... or it won't. And either way you'll have a clear conscience. Because you will have done what you could do. So that's not what I'm talking about here. What I'm talking about is how seem to think more is more, when the truth of the matter is, sometimes LESS is more. Sometimes its harder to do nothing than something. But sometimes the situation requires you to do nothing. Sometimes the situation requires you... to be still. But that can be so powerful. If you can keep your head when everyone else is losing theirs... I'm telling you. Powerful. Watch how much: "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:37-39). Storm's a raging all around. Boat might could be sinking. Where's Jesus? Sleeping. In a literal posture of rest. Not a care in the world. Not worried about nuthin'. Because He knew that the fire in Him was hotter than the fire He was in. He knew what was inside trumped anything that could possibly be outside. HE was calm, and He was able to spread that calm. HE was at peace, and He was able to spread that peace. He didn't panic. He didn't run to God crying about how big the storm was. But there's another way to look at this, from the disciples' point of view, in which they DID run to God when they had a problem, and I think that's the correct thing for us to do. I've heard it said, "Don't tell your God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is." And I get that. But I also think its a good idea to cast your cares on Him. To call on the name of the Lord and be saved. Let me say it like this: "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (Exodus 14:13-15). See? You go forward by standing still sometimes. You let God in on what's happening, and then HE happens. In you, and through you, and as you. You be still, and you know that HE is God, and then HE does what He's going to do. Which means YOU do what YOU'RE going to do. Which means letting the love--the God--inside you come out. Not by trying to hard, but simply by letting the Word become flesh. Simply by acting in love. God is exalted when you be still. When you keep your head, and your peace. When you release that peace. God is exalted... when you receive and release His love. When you give what you've got. When you be who you are in Christ. Which is who Christ is in you. Which is not just someone who is loved... but someone who is LOVE!