Today the sun is shining again. There is a sense of joy and gladness with the lifting of the dark clouds after days of unrelenting rain.
A week ago I began the Seven Days of Stillness as recommended by Chuck Pierce.
A week ago I began the Seven Days of Stillness as recommended by Chuck Pierce.
I decided to do it not as an act of having to do something, as if I were "twisting God's arm" to return the favor... but as an act of obedience, setting myself apart from the distractions of the daily life, a deliberate effort to sit in His presence while I know my spirit walks in silence around my Jericho walls.
Each day, I set aside a few moments to sit still in the presence of God, waiting on Him to speak to me while I inclined my ears to listen to what He had to say.
It did not always happen exactly the way I planned it. On a few occasions, I would sit still after a rather tiring day, when I was just ready to drop off to sleep. And my sleepy, weary heart would say quietly to Him, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening."
And faithfully, one or several Scripture verses would gently float into my heart, and I had the assurance that it was God speaking.
Today was the seventh day.
At church this morning, I was mildly surprised to hear the worship leader quote Psalm 46:10,
Be still and know that I am God.
"What consumes our hearts in the midst of our daily concerns?" he asked.
Are we consumed by the busyness... the mess... the urgent... the immediate need?
Martha was upset and worried about many things, but Mary was consumed by one thing only: her passion for Jesus. And she chose to sit at His feet, be still in His presence, and gaze at His loveliness.
What a clear confirmation to what God had gently impressed upon my heart over the past days!
Day 1
Psalm 32:6-7
For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Isaiah 43:1-3
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior...
Day 2
2 Chronicles 20:17
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.
Day 3
Exodus 14:13-16
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Day 4
Isaiah 30:15
For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Psalm 62:1, 2
Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Psalm 62:1, 2
Truly my soul silently waits for God;
From Him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.
Day 5
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Isaiah 40:27, 28
Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Isaiah 40:27, 28
Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Day 6
Psalm 119:1-2
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart...
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart...
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Day 7
Habakkuk 2:20
But the LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.
Isaiah 9:6
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Psalm 27:4, 5
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
or in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
But the LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.
Isaiah 9:6
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the LORD;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
For the LORD will comfort Zion,
He will comfort all her waste places;
He will make her wilderness like Eden,
And her desert like the garden of the LORD;
Joy and gladness will be found in it,
Thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
Psalm 27:4, 5
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
or in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
What was God saying to me through His word?
God gave me the assurance that He was with me in this battle.
That I must not fear, for I will not be overwhelmed.
That all I need do is take the focus off myself,
to be humble by not trying to take things into my own hands, but rather to wait, and trust Him, to be ready to obey the strategies He teaches me,
to keep a heart of worship... turn my eyes on Him alone.
As I listened to the songs of Kari Jobe, my heart was so refreshed, and uplifted!
Her song Beautiful has truly expressed the response of my heart to God as He revealed Himself to me during the past seven days of stillness.
Thank you, dear Father, for taking time to speak to me.
Beautiful
by Kari Jobe
Here before Your altar
I am letting go of all I've held
Of every motive, every burden
Everything that's of myself
And I just wanna wait on You, my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You're beautiful to me
Here in Your presence
I am not afraid of brokenness
To wash Your feet with humble tears
I would be poured out till nothing's left
And I just wanna wait on You, my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You're beautiful to me
Beautiful
You're beautiful, oh You're beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You're beautiful to me
You're beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful
13 comments:
Beautiful words and scriptures Lidj. There is no substitute for being in His presence... we cannot manufacture it on our own, and He is always ready.
Thank you for another heart warming visit.
xo
Lidj,
Your Day 2 scripture was one that God gave me many years ago as a reminder that He had my back. He had my situation under perfect control. He was so huge to me in that time and that scripture has remainded emblazoned on my heart.
Blessings to you, my friend.
Hi Lidj,
Sounds like a great week spending time in His presence!
I love these scriptures and the peace I feel coming from you.
Blessings,
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I am so glad I stopped by to read your blog today and be reminded to stand still, fear not and stay in the Lord's presence.\0/
Thank you for sharing these Scriptures with us as you spent these seven days in stillness. I am copying and pasting them into a Word document to slip into my purse for moments of quietness throughout my day. See, you have gotten refreshment through this time and ... you have blessed others including me by sharing. Thank you for that Lidj.
The song is a perfect ending to this beautiful post.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Dear Lidj,
You indeed got a whole pearl string of my favorite scriptures in your silent week.
He has poured words of grace over you.
I guess I am most of a Martha; everyday life contains so many challenges and tasks.
I therefore found great peace in my half hour of Maria time, sitting alone in my prayer room (or chapel as Gunnar says with a smile in his voice).
I did, however write down what came to me afterwards. I was kind of scared to loose it in the everyday flood.
Oh, all these days filled with chasing after wind.
I also felt the opportunity to unload while sitting still.
Thoughts coming and going, left over for the lord to deal with.
I certainly learned; I'll try to seize this half hour in stillness everyday.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us, Lidj! These verses were exactly what my heart needed to read and "chew on" today! And your words: "That all I need do is take the focus off myself, to be humble by not trying to take things into my own hands, but rather to wait, and trust Him, to be ready to obey the strategies He teaches me, to keep a heart of worship... turn my eyes on Him alone." ~~ well, this is such a wonderful lesson! I'm so thankful you shared it! Sometimes I wonder if you and I are in the same battlefield! For the lessons He's teaching you are just what HE KNOWS my heart is needing at this very moment! Thank you dear friend!
Hugs to you too
tammi
Hi Lidj -
Thank you, dear lady of GOD. Your words here washed over my wounded soul.
You expressed, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you."
Our Lord knew when he sent me here this a.m. that I so needed to read this post.
And before I came here, I read Psalm 62 and then noticed that it was posted here in this post.
That is so GOD!
Thank you so much, Lidj, for this balm.
My family and I took a much needed break and to see this place where we had been 2 years ago with a much lesser crowd, was such a big blessing! By the waters, the waves are so calm, with little waves rolling in and out of the shores. My son loves going to Laguna Seca raceway. To hike a little up the hill and see his favorite spot without the racing, loud cars was totally different. We heard the whispering leaves of trees as the gusts came from Pacific Ocean instead and saw those many little squirrels which dug up so many holes underneath the ground.
I thought of your last post about "being still" and so many things we could miss if we are caught in the loud, fast pace of this world. We could easily miss seeing the love that the Lord had put in each creation, be it nature or humans. The truth is that they are given through the most simple things.
We savored a few donuts we tried to avoid for a long time and yesterday I bought a dozen to bless a very old mother and son whom we met 2 years ago and they were in the business for 40 something years. The donuts were the best tasting ones to us because we knew how much perfection was tried by those wrinkled hands.
The owners of this place where we were staying gave us the best spot and had stopped real quick before we left to go to another place and with the warmest smile had exchanged a few of life's stories.
"Take a picture!" my husband told me. I said, "No!" Some of the best things you can't capture except by storing them in our hearts. And that's what I did yesterday...Capture all the best things knowing they were orchestrated by our good, loving Father. Who always thinks about us and Who always makes His presence known through silent whispers...
Be still....I will do that today again sister Lidj and love His Word you shared...I know...I know...He is an awesome God!
I love Kari Jobe's song you shared. May the Lord's quiet whispers always reach your heart...God bless and love to you sister in Christ.
Thank you for sharing these meditations, we need to be still before the Lord
Such strength and instruction come from quieting ourselves in His presence. And out of the quiet come courage and direction for the "next thing". How well you communicate this "secret" by your words born out of the 7 days!
As always I was ministered and heard the word of the Lord to me personally. We so want to be busy and yet we need to be still.
Thanks for these reassuring scriptures.
Chuck Pierce was based here in the city where I live...I am not sure if he still is...I haven't heard him in years.
Thanks again for sharing I am taking it all in.
Blessings as God continues to minister to you in your stillness before Him.
Your words and these beautiful scriptures comforted my heart. We need to remember that the battle is the Lords. He fights for us. We just need to humbly listen and walk in obedience. He will see us through.
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