God often calls us to STOP.
In the midst of God’s leading in our lives, we take shortcuts. We assume we know how to get from point A to point B, and we take off running. When really, we should be listening for turn-by-turn directions from God.
Especially when he asks us to STOP.
Moses, the Hebrew-raised-Egyptian shepherd, leads his sheep to the base of Mount Horeb, unaware of what God has in store. Minding his own business, he encounters a strange sight: a fiery bush that won’t burn up.
Instead of tending to his sheep, he stops.
And Moses said, “I’ve got to turn aside so I may see this great sight: why is the bush not burnt up?” (Exodus 3:3)
Moses sees the bush.
He stops what he’s doing.
And he comes into the presence of the living God.
No one would have blamed Moses for ignoring the bush. He had sheep to tend to. He had responsibilities and tasks at hand. He could have continued living the simple life of a shepherd without a second thought.
Instead, Moses stops. And his life is derailed. Yes, he is called to be a shepherd, but of the Israelites, not just sheep. He faces off with Pharaoh and leads God’s people from slavery, across the Red Sea, and to the Promised Land. He experiences intimacy with the Lord unlike any other person in the Old Testament.
When we choose to stop, we make room for God to move.
I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:7-8)
He sees their condition.
He hears their cries.
And he comes down.
The ancient deities at the time were distant and cold. But the God of Abraham comes down to rescue his people. Something we see him do again through Christ, the Immanuel.
He sees affliction.
He hears cries.
Rescues, redeems, and restores his people.
Stopping has never come easily for me. Maybe it has for you. My mom often jokes that I was born with “roller skates.” I love moving and going and activity. My day isn’t complete without a 3-5 mile hike.
But sometimes we’re forced to stop. Dead. In. Our. Tracks. [Tweet this]
Sometimes we’re invited to stop for a brief season or sabbatical. [Tweet this]
Sometimes we’re asked to stop in order to regain perspective. [Tweet this]
Sometimes outside circumstances force us to stop. [Tweet this]
But even when we stop, we can rest assured that God is still on the move—redeeming, restoring, healing, renewing, strengthening, rescuing and saving. [Tweet this]
God is doing more when you stop than you can possibly realize—even in this.
When have you discovered stopping to help you to move forward in life?
I have been clinging to the bars of the merry-go-round for months now. My insides have been screaming “STOP!!!” but I keep moving. The pace of my life has taken me past where God wants me. Yesterday I stopped. God released me from the ride. I allowed Him to and today I am free to begin again. I am FREE! This blog came at just the right time for me. I am still and ready to experience the “I AM”
I know the merry-go-round too well, Teresa. So excited for you to finally slow down and rest!! Celebrating with you today.
Well it has taken me quite a few years to learn to stop, or at least slow down when God tells me to. Like you I have been going, going, going, except for a few times when God has forced me to stop. Now I am learning to stop, slow down, and really listen to God. It certainly works a lot better when I’m willing to listen and obey.
I agree, Birdie. When we’re willing to slow down and even stop– we more likely to hear his voice and direction.
Ten years ago next month, our 25 yr old firstborn son of 5 children, passed away from this earth to Heaven in his own bed, in our home. The official cause of death is listed as unknown. He loved and served Jesus and was a light in life to so many people. His death came out of nowhere, no warning, no illness, no reason. Life was brought to a screeching halt. STOP!…….. BUT GOD! We gave our grief to God and He carried us through. We gave our questions to God and He gave us Peace and Comfort in the unknown. We gave our pain to Him and we could laugh and rejoice and celebrate the gift of life even as we said goodbye. Ten years later we look back on the STOP time and know we are stronger, more certain and sure, in our faith! If God could bring us through such a tragedy then, He can bring us through anything!
Wow, Della. Your story is a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for this. The timing is God’s timing. For such a time as this.
Thank you for listening to the promoting of the Holy Spirit.
Karen
Prompting
Hug to you, Karen.
The fall of 2012 I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit giving me the verse for the year of 2013 Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
I did not listen until.. May of 2013… yes almost half way through the year… My advice is .. when the Lord prompts you to do something.. LISTEN.. BE STILL.. There are reasons He wants us to Be Still and it is so we can hear His voice.. Be Blessed, great message Margaret!
Yes yes yes! Thankful that he doesn’t quit reminding us to BE STILL even though sometimes we don’t listen.
Hi,
Seems to me that many people are using Psalm 46:10 completely out of context. Here is the full and complete context of this verse.
Psalm 46
The confidence which the church has in God
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalms 46:1-11 (KJV)
Looks like God is telling us that He is the refuge of Jacob, Israel and that He will take care of their needs. He is our refuge. He will take care of our troubles, but absolutely nothing about keeping our minds or mouths closed. To contemplate anything.