Be Still My Soul

"Be still my soul." Whenever I read these words, think these words, hear these words, I instantly stop. I hear the Lord's voice asking me to be still. He is asking me to stop running and running and to take time to let his peace wash over me. I love Kari Jobe's song Be Still my Soul. How easy it is to get caught up in the fast pace life of this world. And how dangerous it is to our soul. How can running around without taking time to be still with the presence of the Lord hurt us? Well I can tell you several ways of how it has hurt my soul.

1. When we are constantly go, go, go eventually we will run out of juice. Our bodies need rest, our minds need rest, and our soul needs rest as well. It's easy to get caught up in events, signing up for every sport, watching your kid play every sport you signed them up for, saying yes to every friend that needs your help, spending too much time on your phone, etc., ect. We get caught up in the fast paced lifestyle. We believe the lie that we constantly need something going on. We fall into the yes man mindset. What happens to a car once it runs out of gas? It can't move, it can't go anywhere, and it can't do what it is created to do. When we go, go, go until we run out of life then we cannot help others, we cannot love and serve as greatly, and we cannot do what we were created to do. So what is life? Life is Jesus. He is the living water and without him we cannot live. John 4:14 So stop, be still, and drink of him.

2. When we don't stop to be still we miss out on hearing God or we miss out on a blessing he has placed in front of us. It is easy to get caught up in the static of this world. I have definitely experienced this. I can get so caught up in school, friendships, work, and everything else that I miss out on hearing from God. There are often times where I pray and wonder why he hasn't answered me when in reality he is calling me to stop and be still. I have been learning to stop throughout my day and clear my mind, open my heart, and thank him. I thank him and then I just listen. A peace that can only come from above washes over me. It makes each day much more beautiful. When a tough situation comes up, those moments of quiet help me so much to stay calm because I am aware of his presence. So take time throughout your day to stop and open your heart to the Lord. He says, “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

3. In regards to the verse above, the Lord is calling us to stop and know that he is God. He is our creator. The verses go onto telling them how amazing he is and how the people shouted with joy. So stop today or tomorrow or whenever and shout with joy! If you're having a bad day, please, just take a break from whatever is bringing you down and sing praises to him, dance with all of your soul, and shout with joy. Why? Because we have a creator who loves us. Because he is so, so good. Because we once were dead but now we are alive! I promise you, the turmoil in your heart, the chains binding your feet, will crumble when you CHOOSE to be still and let your praises ring. It is a conscience choice you must make but one that will change your life. 4. He wants us to be still so he can be God. He wants us to be still so he can fight for us. He wants to hear about your problems, your prayers, your worries, and whatever else is going on. He wants us to stop freaking out and to trust him. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you." God is mighty and strong. He loves you and wants a relationship with you. He sent his son to die on the cross to have a relationship with you. So whatever voices are getting in the way of your relationship with God then tell them to be quiet because you want to hear his voice alone. Sometimes we have to get away from the world in order to be alone with him which is so incredibly amazing and intimate. It is unlike anything in this world. He loves you and he cares for you my friends. So please, be still.

So, be still my soul. Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain.

Set in Stone

Goals are important. I believe in the importance of setting goals in my life. I remember in high school I set a goal to lose 15 pounds and sure enough I lost 15 pounds by eating healthy and working out. Post high school I set the goal to graduate Taft College in 2 years and sure enough this year I'm graduating. I have many other goals I want to accomplish and work daily to reach. So I believe that setting goals are very important. I also think that planning is important. It's smart to have plans for your future and your life. You definitely don't want to wander through life not knowing what you want.
I'm the type of person who likes to stick to "the plan". In all honesty, I am not the type of person who likes when the plan changes and doesn't go my way. I get angry and frustrated. I'm thrown off my game and I really don't like that. The thing about God though is that he doesn't really go by our plans. The world does not revolve around us. I repeat, the world. does. not. revolve. around. me. In our culture we are, unfortunately, taught this. We are taught selfishness, we are taught that things should go our way and we should get what we want.
This way of thinking is really not healthy at all. This isn't not how the Lord wants us to live our lives. I have found freedom from Jesus that it's more than okay if things don't go my way. I found peace in the realization that his way is better than my own. Although, it is a work in process, he has shown me that I can trust in him and the plans he has for my life. The more I seek him, the more his desires become my own. Psalm 37:4 says to take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. I found that when I delight in him through his word, worship, and prayer he gives me desires that are so much better than my own. The ways of this world are deceitful but his ways are fruitful, beautiful, and grand.
It's so important to not set your plans and your goals in stone. By doing this you will more than likely miss out on an alternate, and much more amazing, path the Lord has for you. He wants to take you B E Y O N D your wildest dreams. His plans for your life are surreal. But if you are so set in your own ways you could miss out on what he has in store for you. Not only that, but learning to "go with flow", has brought me immense peace. When things don't go my way or as planned, instead of freaking out I hand it over to him and say "alright Lord here's this storm, here's this situation, I trust you."
If things are not going your way right now, hand it over to him. Seek him and his word. And most importantly, trust him. And do not be afraid to take a risk and follow a different plan. It's okay if you fail your first goal, you just stand back up and see where he leads you. Life doesn't need to be this step by step plan..where's the adventure in that?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

I like to think of comfort as a fish bowl. Fish live a very comfortable life inside their little fish bowl. They're safe, they're fed (usually), and they get to swim in circles all day long. Now imagine that you are the fish and the bowl represents your comfort zone. You have comfort, food, most likely happiness, everything you need/want. Here's where it becomes a problem; you can't reach other fish, you can't "swim" to other places, you aren't growing, you aren't being challenged. You stay comfortable.

Being comfortable is awesome. I have traveled many times and slept on many uncomfortable beds and there is nothing like the comfort of coming home to your own bed. The thing is, as Christians we aren't called to be comfortable for long periods of times. We're called to live dangerously. We're called to take risks. We're called to walk through doors that often lead us into the unknown. Becoming a Christian doesn't mean you're going to have it easy. And if you are having it easy, you may want to switch it up. I'm sorry to discourage anyone but this is just the truth. Jesus himself said that we will have many troubles in this world.

The cool part of that verse though is what he says next, "But take heart! For I have overcome the world." So if you decide to step out of your comfort zone to follow him know that he is with you and that he has already overcome the world, so do not fear. It could be as easy as talking to the kid at school who has no friends or the coworker that maybe just started and doesn't have any friends. It could be bigger like going on a missions trip or quitting your job that isn't making you happy. Or maybe its time to leave that relationship of emotional and physical abuse. Or maybe you want to go back to church and reconnect but you're afraid. Maybe you feel led to tell a friend about Jesus' love but you're scared of their reaction. Whatever it is, do not be afraid because he is with you. When you are giving your heart and soul to him he will guide you in the right direction. "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4.

He has great plans for you. He wants to unleash your dreams. He wants to set you free. Don't let comfort steal away how amazing your life could be. If you would just trust in his hand to lead you, then surely he will. You are his child and he wills an amazing life for you but you must jump out that fishbowl. Jesus didn't die and resurrect for us to live a life of mediocrity. He rose again so that we could live abundantly. Sometimes that means you have to go through a couple trials in order for the growth to occur. But remember, take heart for he has overcome the world. So let's get out there and be world changers people. Let's love greater, give more, execute our dreams, fall and stand up again. Press on to the finish line my friends.

"If only we have the will to walk, then God is pleased with out stumbles." -C.S. Lewis