be still to do all things 128/366

Today I finished spring cleaning

I saved the kitchen for last

because I knew it would take more than one day

and as I looked, 

really looked

at two of the things I had in my kitchen window sill

I laughed at the irony...

Be still

and

Do all things

What in the world was I thinking when I put them both on the same ledge?

I know what I was thinking when I bought them,

individually they are good reminders.

As I thought about those two messages today

I came to realize something important:

they belong together.

like Andy and Barney
or peas and carrots

or peanut butter and jelly

or Mutt and Jeff

Be still always initially brings to mind: 
stop what you are doing
sit
quit moving from place to place
and practicing that can be helpful in knowing God
in fact, it's great for a sabbath or sabbatical,
but it isn't practical for everyday living, serving, ministry

“Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 ESV

But the word(s) used for Be Still can also be translated another way: 
cease striving
and when I read that translation my heart gives a big sigh of relief

“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, 
I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10 NASB

I am reminded that He is God 
and me working harder doesn't make that any more real or powerful,
when I rest in knowing He is God, 
and as I rely on Him, 
not myself, anyone or anything else,
I know it isn't my strength that will accomplish any good thing, 
but Him at work in and through me

when I cease striving, 
when I rest in knowing He is God and I am not,
when I work from a place of resting in Him and His power,
I can do all the things He calls me to do,
and I am able to do them with great love.

when I am striving
I can do a lot of things, 
I can work harder and longer and faster,
doing all kinds of "good things"
but my attitude can so easily and quickly go wrong

"duty" steals my joy 
striving blinds me to the gift and privilege of serving
and "great love" often gets replaced with great resentment

when the motivation is "I should" or "I have to", 
ministry gets done reluctantly, even begrudgingly
which is the very reason
"Be still and know I am God" should always be paired with
"Do all things with great love"
because when I am focused on knowing God
doing all things with great love is the natural way to live

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14