October 1
Still Waters
"…He leads me beside the still waters."
Have you ever thought to yourself; "If God would just write it in the sky so I would know what to do things would be so much better", I have and on more than one occasion. One of the greatest challenges facing God’s children today is obtaining direction; knowing which direction or decision God would have us take. Brennan Manning wrote,"Craving clarity, we attempt to eliminate the risk of trusting God." The souls fiercest battle is not so much hearing but trusting. During the storms of life, the hardships and trials, we so desperately seek God for a word, a message of how and what to do only to end up with confusion when all He wants is for us to trust Him. But God is not the author of confusion and He doesn’t want us to be without direction and most definitely not to miss His will for our lives. So what are we to do beloved? How can learn to trust Him as we wait to hear his voice and find His direction of our lives even in the midst of the storms of life?
The Psalmist gives us the secret to God’s direction for His strength and restoration. He tells us that God "leads us beside the still waters". He gives us directions, not in loudness but in quietness, not in the raging waters but in the waters that are still. It is here resting beside the still waters of His presence that He will lead us; that He will show us what to do. How easily we are swept away in the waters of fear, doubt and worry because our heart succumbs to our circumstances rather than to His presence. With God’s leading comes His peace. The word the Psalmist uses for "leads" means: to give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place or station, cause to rest, to refresh. The word for quiet means place of rest, peace and tranquility. The beauty of what the Psalmist is saying is seen when we understand that this peace, this rest is not depending upon the waters or being hindered by them, but it is dependent upon the One Who is leading us beside those waters; whatever kind they may be.
When we find ourselves needing God’s direction then we must make the conscious choice to be still and quiet ourselves before Him knowing that it is in the stillness only that guidance is found. If we don’t, then we will only hear the roar of the storm precious One and we will miss the voice of the One we so desperately need to hear. Quiet the waters of your soul today and be still before Him and there in the abandonment of His presence He will speak and you will hear. If you’ve missed God in a decision or situation then be still before Him and remain until your waters are still. You will never hear Him in the midst of the noise of your circumstances and you will miss His path in your steps of clamor. Let the silence of His presence fall over your soul today, no matter how grave your situation, and hide yourself in the cloak of His peace.
In The Quiet You will Guide Me
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
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