This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is on the word still.
Such a little word with so much meaning. Over the last couple of months I’ve been praying differently. Asking God to make the fleece wet and leaving no margin for error in my discernment.
He delivered!
And even though some of these answers are somewhat scary, I’m full of such peace and such confidence that I wonder why it took me so long to just ask Him the hard questions.
Fear. That thing that isn’t from Him. That thing that we don’t even like to speak of. But it’s real and we humans fall into that pit every time.
But He tells us to be still. And so I learn this skill. Day-by-day…I learn what stillness truly looks like.
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Still
Start:
I use to pray safe prayers.
You know the ones. Where you’re not afraid of the outcome no matter what the answer is. Nothing like a hard question for Him to answer or a hard truth for me to swallow. They were careful prayers. Ones that were like sticking a pinky toe into the water – sending soft ripples rather than the tidal waves of truth that came surfing in on His response.
If I just played it safe. Cautious. Measured it all up before I let the words slip from my mouth…then He couldn’t yank the rug of comfort out from underneath me.
Status quo. Just keep it like it is – no need to stir the nest.
Oh, but there was no stillness. I fought for myself. I failed to trust.
How often I read this scripture and let it slide through my fingers, unmoved by its meaning.
The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still…
Inspiring. But what did it mean for me? I couldn’t be still. I had to fight.
Anxiety does that to a person. And we’re reminded not to be anxious about anything but to pray the prayers of supplication, allowing Him to work such power that when He speaks, it happens.
And then there was that day. That day it just all sank in. He who promised is faithful…
The Lord WILL fight for you. You need only to be still…
So I prayed the harder prayers, knowing that the answers came with a Hand that would equip me for the task. A pillar of cloud during the day. A pillar of fire by night. And one that moves in behind me to get my back when the enemy is approaching from behind.
I have peace now and I’m no longer afraid of the answers. Not very afraid.
I trust Him. I am sure of Who He is.
I am finally…finally…still.
Stop.
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Won’t you join me this week for Five Minute Friday over at Kate Motaung’s page? We’d love to see you there! Just familiarize yourself with this page first, no editing, and set your watch for five minutes.
Beautifully said!
I wish I COULD remain still. I do trust Him, bu if I stop for stillness, it hurts too much to get started again.
Best not to stop,I guess.
Hey, Andrew – thanks for stopping by. Curious to know what you meant about “it hurts too much to get started again.” Do you care to share?
Thank you for sharing your heart and the verses about stillness. It is so hard to quiet my mind and be still. I sometimes feel like a computer with too many windows open. I need to shut all the noise down for a time, and focus on stillness with God each day. Thank you for the encouragement.
Thank you for stopping by, Jolene!
Oh… what a powerful verse: “The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still…”. Thank you for prompting me to reflect on what it means for me today. And thanks for sharing so beautifully from your own heart. I always enjoy stopping by your place.
Thank you, Karen – and I always enjoy your encouragement! 🙂
Hard prayers vs. careful prayers. Wow. That really speaks to me. This was a great message, Jennifer. Sorry I have not been by more frequently. I’ve missed reading your words. Blessings. xoxo
Thank you for stopping by, Beth! So glad to see you reunited with the hubby. 🙂
I have learned this year how to pray specifics and it’s scary. But it’s so rewarding. My relationship with God has leveled up. I’m letting go of myself and leaning into trust.
Such a great word!
Thank you so much for stopping by, Liz!
I encourage you to pray those harder prayers!!! I am continually amazed at how God answers prayer. I don’t know why I should be amazed, but I am! I know it doesn’t sound normal, but I do believe it gets easier to trust him, because the more you know him and give him those hard prayers and do the hard things, the more you know that He isn’t going to fail. Things Im learning, and yet I still struggle giving it all to Him in prayer!
Beautiful! I love this scripture. I’m studying the life of Moses this year, and my heart has stuck to this verse. Trusting God with all we have and all we are takes the pressure off of us. Thank you for sharing your some of your story through your words here. Many blessings to you!
Thank you so much for visiting, Julie. Are you studying Moses through a Bible study or plan of some sort? That sounds fascinating! 🙂