By Brenda Jank
Two scriptural accounts have formed my “knowing” God.
Be still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10a
Satisfied
While growing up, a picture of God’s loving care, which captured my heart was a nursing mother with her child found in Isaiah 66:11. It still does, but now my “priceless” picture of God’s love is that of a weaned child with his mother. A weaned child does not want anything from mom. He is in her arms content and fully satisfied. All he wants and needs is her presence.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131:2
When I am still in the presence of God, when I attend to him in prayer, when my quieted heart listens for his heartbeat, I find the source of my satisfaction.
The presence of God.
This still and quiet “knowing God” places me on Holy Ground.
Attentive
An account in the book of Joshua points us to an active stance of “knowing God.” It speaks to us of Holy Ground. Joshua 5:13-15
In it, Joshua encounters an angel, a commander in the army of God. Joshua falls face down, humbled and in awe. “What message does my Lord have for His servant?” Upon hearing that question, the angel announces, “Take off your sandals for the place you are standing is holy.”
Meeting with God is a holy thing. All too often I enter my prayer time distracted and in haste, with a casualness that can lead to callousness.
I want to replace my casualness and callousness with attentiveness and awe.
“What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
What message does he have for me?
Am I familiar with his voice?
…the sheep listen for his (the shepherd’s) voice. He calls his own sheep by name ad leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:3b-4
Note: This post is part of our original series on rest. We are re-posting some of our favorite articles because we believe they are just as important today as ever. We hope to encourage and inspire you and those you love and lead to REST WELL through this time of COVID-19 crisis, comeback, and recovery. Onward!
- Would you like to start at the beginning and read this series on stillness and solitude? Click here.
- Would you like to read the post that preceded this one? Click here.
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