Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?
Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?
Written By: Joy Hardin
SCRIPTURE
“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)
DEVOTIONAL
If you’ve ever stepped on an ant hill (and in Georgia you surely have), you’ve seen the little guys running around in a flurry of activity trying to repair their home. This is probably how most of us look to God, scurrying around in busyness, trying to fix our lives. Yet, no matter how fast we run or in how much of a flurry we find ourselves, we really can’t fix our biggest dilemmas. God’s answer is to just be still and know that He alone is God.
The word for “still” can also be translated as cease, abate, or forsake. God tells us to “calm down” (CEV), “cease striving” (NASB), and to “surrender our anxiety” (TPT).
What does it mean to “know” that He is God? It’s to know by observing, reflecting, and experiencing. The only way to do that is to first be still. When it seems life is too hard, too overwhelming, or too difficult to understand, God tells us to stop and dwell on Him. We are reminded “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3, NLT)
The story was shared during the “Soul Care” series of how, at the first sign of snow, farmers in the Midwest would tie a rope from the house to the barn so they wouldn’t get lost in a blizzard. They knew people who had died because they were lost in a whiteout and couldn’t find their way home. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy and distractions of the world. When that happens, we need a rope from the back door to the barn so we can find our way home again. The farmers didn’t wait until a blizzard came, but they prepared before the storm. It’s important that we regularly take time to be still, dwell on God, and be sure our connection to Him is strong when the storms come.
ACTION STEP
Looking back at your calendar for the past week, how many days have you spent reflecting on God and experiencing His presence? Make a plan (tie a rope in your mind from the back door to the barn) and start to regularly be still before the Lord.
Every morning for the next week, stop for at least five minutes and listen to the Lord. Without asking Him for anything, simply praise Him and exalt Him for who He is.
PRAYER TIME
Write Psalm 46:10 in your own words as your prayer to God.
Father, help me to never be too busy for you. Teach me to be still in Your presence, to listen for Your voice, and to exalt You with my life.
“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)
DEVOTIONAL
If you’ve ever stepped on an ant hill (and in Georgia you surely have), you’ve seen the little guys running around in a flurry of activity trying to repair their home. This is probably how most of us look to God, scurrying around in busyness, trying to fix our lives. Yet, no matter how fast we run or in how much of a flurry we find ourselves, we really can’t fix our biggest dilemmas. God’s answer is to just be still and know that He alone is God.
The word for “still” can also be translated as cease, abate, or forsake. God tells us to “calm down” (CEV), “cease striving” (NASB), and to “surrender our anxiety” (TPT).
What does it mean to “know” that He is God? It’s to know by observing, reflecting, and experiencing. The only way to do that is to first be still. When it seems life is too hard, too overwhelming, or too difficult to understand, God tells us to stop and dwell on Him. We are reminded “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3, NLT)
The story was shared during the “Soul Care” series of how, at the first sign of snow, farmers in the Midwest would tie a rope from the house to the barn so they wouldn’t get lost in a blizzard. They knew people who had died because they were lost in a whiteout and couldn’t find their way home. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy and distractions of the world. When that happens, we need a rope from the back door to the barn so we can find our way home again. The farmers didn’t wait until a blizzard came, but they prepared before the storm. It’s important that we regularly take time to be still, dwell on God, and be sure our connection to Him is strong when the storms come.
ACTION STEP
Looking back at your calendar for the past week, how many days have you spent reflecting on God and experiencing His presence? Make a plan (tie a rope in your mind from the back door to the barn) and start to regularly be still before the Lord.
Every morning for the next week, stop for at least five minutes and listen to the Lord. Without asking Him for anything, simply praise Him and exalt Him for who He is.
PRAYER TIME
Write Psalm 46:10 in your own words as your prayer to God.
Father, help me to never be too busy for you. Teach me to be still in Your presence, to listen for Your voice, and to exalt You with my life.

Posted in 28 Days of Prayer and Fasting
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January
January 9th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 10th, 2023 - The Burning BushJanuary 11th, 2023 - Strong and Courageous January 12th, 2023 - Obediently Set ApartJanuary 13th, 2023 - Faithful Among Enemy NationsJanuary 14th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 16th, 2023 - Be StillJanuary 17th, 2023 - God Inhabits His PraisesJanuary 18th, 2023 - Enjoying God's PresenceJanuary 19th, 2023 - Broken & Contrite HeartJanuary 20th, 2023 - Asking for OthersJanuary 21st, 2023 - Petition and ProvisionJanuary 23rd, 2023 - One Body, Many PartsJanuary 24th, 2023 - Love One AnotherJanuary 25th, 2023 - Unity in the BodyJanuary 26th, 2023 - Consider Others BetterJanuary 27th, 2023 - Living in the LightJanuary 28th, 2023 - Don't Let Anger Control YouJanuary 30, 2023 - The Power of FastingJanuary 31st, 2023 - Pray as You Can
February
February 1st, 2023 - ScriptureFebruary 2nd, 2023 - Sabbath Day, Best DayFebruary 3rd, 2023 - SimplicityFebruary 4th, 2023 - WorshipFebruary 6th, 2023 - Love Your NeighborFebruary 7th, 2023 - Come and See, Go and TellFebruary 8th, 2023 - GenerosityFebruary 9th, 2023 - Caring for the VulnerableFebruary 10, 2023 - HospitalityFebruary 11th, 2023 - Build
2022
January
Covid UpdateDay 1 - Is It Worth It?Day 2 - God Promises His PresenceDay 3 - Aligning Ourselves With GodDay 4 - The Voice of the ShepherdVision 2022 - Begins this Sunday!Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?Day 6 - "By the Grace of God"Day 7 - A Day for Rest and WorshipDay 8 - Ask Boldly and Surrender CompletelyDay 9 - Our Deliverance for His GloryDay 10 - Ask for the ImpossibleDay 11 - Adversity Meets Unwavering FaithWhat an incredible start to 2022!!Day 12 - Focus Reveals FaithDay 13 - Impossible Mission!Day 15 - Followers of JesusDay 16 - The Good News of God’s LoveDay 17 - Radical Love Leads People to JesusLet's Try this Again...Day 18 - Relentless CommitmentDay 19 - Unending Power SourceDay 20 - Come and See, Go and TellDay 22 - Many Parts, One BodyDay 23 - A New Command - Love One AnotherDay 24 - One Body and One LordDay 25 - Be Angry, But Do Not SinDo you Belong?Day 26 - The Commandment of LoveDay 27 - The Attitude and Obedience of Christ
March
Day 1 - Seeking the Lord TogetherDay 2 - Ash WednesdayDay 3 - The Baptism of JesusDay 4 - The Word as a WeaponDay 5 - Freedom in ConfessionDay 6 - Love Your EnemiesDay 7 - Anxious for NothingDay 8 - Effective PrayerDay 9 - Amazing FaithDay 10 - The Bleeding WomanDay 11 - Confidence in GodDay 12 - Fear Not!Day 13 - Come and RestDay 14 - Kingdom Minded CommunityDay 15 - The TreasureDay 16 - Peace in His PresenceDay 17 - Raise the RoofDay 18 - A Parent's CommitmentDay 19 - Too Good to be TrueDay 20 - Only JesusDay 21 - The Ninety-Nine and the OneDay 22 - Salvation Through SurrenderDay 23 - Good Rest from a Good ShepherdDay 24 - Read the RoomDay 25 - A Fruitful FaithDay 26 - The Wedding FeastDay 27 - Serve Like Jesus