12th June. 2020. Daily Devotion.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

A couple of days ago, I found myself heading for my study feeling quite agitated about several things that were on my mind. I hate feeling restless, and as I sat down the thought came, “Be still, what is so bad that you need to be so agitated?” It took a few minutes, but I calmed down and everything came into perspective and I felt better.

Psalm 46 above is perfect for those kinds of moments. It is about God defending His city and people. The Hebrew for “Be Still,” means to stop striving, to let go, surrender. The Psalm begins and ends with “God is our refuge / fortress.”

A secondary meaning is illustrated in the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. His disciples were afraid for their lives. They looked to Jesus to help them and found him fast asleep from exhaustion. They were so terrified that they woke Jesus up. According to Mark’s account, Jesus was not happy. In his frustration he yelled, “Peace, Be Still!” The storm and the huge waves stopped immediately. The literal translation of, Be Still, this time taken from the Greek, is – Hush! And in modern terms: Shut Up!

Sometimes we need to say, “Shut Up!” to our thoughts and worries. The storm is really in our minds and while it rages, we cannot think rationally or with faith about whatever is bothering us. What we need is peace grace and help to see our way forward.

Imagine your way through this Psalm. You are in a safe place surrounded by the power of God, in a place of peace and refreshing waters. Yes, there is a storm out there, but God is here working on your behalf. The Lord Almighty is with you, the God of Jacob is your fortress. Be still and know that He is God.

A Prayer for Letting Go
Gracious God, in this moment of stillness, I let go of all my worries and concerns.
When my hands are formed into tight fists, I cannot open my hands to receive anything. When I hang onto tight control, when I close off my heart and my spirit,
I cannot receive your blessings. I will let go to receive your blessing.
Letting go in this moment, may I sense your loving presence around and within me.

Help me to let go when I feel overwhelmed, that I may receive your peace.
Help me to let go when I feel fear, that in its place I may receive love and courage.
I will let go of my problems and receive clarity and your guidance.
I will let go and trust you. I will not fall. You will catch me. I will let go and trust the still, small voice within me. I surrender my struggle to you and gladly accept the gift of your peace and guidance. Amen (Jackie Trottmann)

A Prayer for the World

God of love and hope,
you made the world and care for all creation,
but the world feels strange right now.
The news is full of stories about Coronavirus.
Some people are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
Be with them and help them to find peace.
We pray for the doctors and nurses and scientists,
and all who are working to discover the right medicines
to help those who are ill.
Thank you that even in these anxious times,
you are with us.
Help us to put our trust in you and keep us safe. Amen. (Church of England Prayers for Coronavirus)