Seeds for 08/21/2024 - Pause & Reflect - Psalm 37:5-7
In this series on prayer and scripture, we have been following the acronym P.R.A.Y. as a guide for prayer. The P and R often stand for “Praise” and “Repent” but an alternate could be “Pause” and Reflect.” Sometimes, this is exactly what we need to do. This week we are looking at passages that speak to this important dynamic in prayer.
Scripture:
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him and He will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Observation:
“Be still before the Lord.” This is easier said than done, right? Still, it’s a common injunction throughout the Bible, especially the psalms, and therefore important to take seriously and consider.
First, the verse that speaks to pausing and reflection, verse 7, links the being “still before the Lord,” with patience. Patience is impossible if we lack the capacity to still our bodies, minds, and hearts. They very much go hand in hand.
Second, the call to pause (“be still before the Lord”) rests on the foundation of the invitation to “commit your way to the Lord” in verse five. If we commit what we are doing to Him, then moments to pause in His presence are possible. We also have room to live with God with a centeredness that allows us to “be quick but not in a hurry,” as athletic coaches often say. This means that we may be diligent, attentive, and fast-paced, but we are not rushed in our spirit.
Third, the latter part of verse seven is instructive: “do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Practicing stillness and patience before God helps combat jealousy and envy of others. In other words, when we are more responsive to the Lord, we are less reactive about what happens with others. Perhaps the converse is true too—when we are more reactive about what is happening with others, we have less capacity to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Application:
What is your current ability like to be still (pause and reflect) before the Lord?
What practical step would help you increase your capacity to do so?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, keep me grounded in your promises rather than distracted by others fortunes, that I may improve my ability pause and keep my trust in you. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
If you liked this post from Seeds of Faith, why not share it and/or subscribe?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™