Be Still, My Soul

I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 131: 1b-2, NIV*

This is one of those psalms God uses to remind me to draw nearer to Him, to learn to abide in Him. After He nudged me through 2 Timothy about needing to steep in His presence, I shouldn’t have been surprised to see these verses show up in my daily reading calendar.

Two more gentle invitations to abide arrived in my in-box, posted on other blogs. At Under the Cover of Prayer, Judith Lawrence’s post, “Contemplatives Without Cloisters,” lures me with the promise of ongoing communion with God, even amid life’s ordinary routines.

“The call is to prayer, to be at one with the Sacred at any and every given moment of the day or night.”

Meanwhile, at Other Food: Daily Devo’s, Violet Nesdoly posted “Walking with God”:

“When we walk with someone we go in the same direction. We move at the same speed. A walk conjures pictures of conversation and fellowship along the way. It is exercise non-strenuous enough that we don’t tire quickly — a relationship for the long haul.”

Violet’s post includes a selection of quotes from Andrew Murray. This one stirs a longing in my spirit:

“Abiding in Jesus is not a work that needs each moment the mind to be engaged, or the affections to be directly and actively occupied with it. It is an entrusting of oneself to the keeping of the Eternal Love, in the faith that it will abide near us, and with its holy presence watch over us and ward off the evil, even when we have to be most intently occupied with other things. And so the heart has rest and peace and joy in the consciousness of being kept when it cannot keep itself.” (Devotional Classics: Andrew Murray George Müller Collection [Andrew Murray Collection, Kindle Edition], Location 847)

Father God, Creator, Sustainer, my spirit longs for this awareness of “being kept when it cannot keep itself”. Only You could plant such a desire, and I thank You for it. You are also the only one to fulfill it. Help me do my part and learn to walk with You. Help me not to waste time fretting about things that are Your responsibility. Help me rest in You, securely held in Your keeping. Help me trust and love You in complete faith.

Note: Ann Voskamp has a beautiful post today at A Holy Experience: “Three Ways to Really Enter into His Rest Right Now

You Are My Hiding Place,” by Selah, lets me reflect on God’s trustworthiness.

*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

14 thoughts on “Be Still, My Soul

  1. Susan Stewart

    This is… exactly what God is speaking to me about this week. Though there is noise and pressure on all sides, I am keenly aware of green pastures and still waters on the inside… In the midst of the maelstrom there is peace. “He is our peace…” (Eph. 2:14)

    Reply
    1. janetsketchley

      “He is our peace” — we need to speak that and believe it. Susan, I’m so glad you’re aware of the oasis inside. May it translate into a peace and joy that’s visible to all! My problem so often is that the commotion or clutter outside distracts me. How can I forget such peace? But I do. Sigh. Working on remembering!

      Reply
  2. Stephanie

    I love that: “a relationship for the long haul.” What a great way to put it!
    And I am humbled by the passage of scripture you chose. Sometimes, I spend too much time dwelling on those “great matters” that are “too wonderful for me.”
    Thank you for reminding me of the peaceful simplicity that it is to truly walk with the Lord.

    Reply
    1. janetsketchley

      I think most of us spend too much time wrestling with the big things, Stephanie. And sure we can wonder, but I want to get back to a simple awareness of being held by Him.

      Reply
  3. melissa

    Yes! The very presence of God in our lives gives rest and I am amazed at the times I simply focused on Him and He gave me that rest. I love the resources you’ve listed. Good words!!!

    Reply
      1. melissa

        Thanks Janet for your kind words!!!

        The Lord led me to study rest in April and little did I know my dad would die just 2 months later. God is so meticulous in His care of us and just gave me the peace and rest during the trial. The online bible study series is a lot of what God taught me and I praise Him!!!

        Blessings to you…

        Reply
        1. janetsketchley

          Isn’t God good? When we see what He’s doing and can trust Him, things go so smoothly. I was just reading a blog on this earlier today at Under the Cover of Prayer, called “Conversations with God“. The writer’s point was that what one person sees as hardship, another sees as proof that God can trust them enough to test them.

          I studied God’s character and trustworthiness just before delivering a baby who’d need surprise surgery. That study sure made a difference. God is good.

          Reply
  4. Julianne

    thank you so much. I am really awed by how deeply this rest theme resonates with so many. And I thought it was just me.
    I enjoyed hopping over for a visit.
    Blessings,
    Julianne

    Reply

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