This weekend a reference to Psalms 46:10 caught my attention.  “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! [NKJV]” Here’s a well-known fact about Milly.  I don’t sit still.

I can’t even sleep still.  I roll, curl up, stretch out, and have let a hand fly in the face of a sleeping husband.  Just ask him.  Anyway, the tangled covers and pillow on the floor don’t lie.  I’m a mover in life.

When I sit at my computer, I fidget in my seat, cross and uncross my legs, stretch, and attack the keyboard with my fingers.  I’m naturally restless and noisy in my space.  Lately, the weather and life have been ‘stormy.’  Please pardon the pun.  I couldn’t resist.  The storm gathering makes me more restless than usual.  It is hard to sit in my chair and work or write.

Thinking of the verse I found I needed to calm my spirit before God and ‘be still.’  What does that mean?  I wasn’t sure I was up to the task.  Meditation or waiting on the Lord are not my strong skills.  When I’m not moving and doing something productive, I feel guilty.

My best prayer times are when I’m walking.  During the summer the heat limits my walks.  No not the storms.  I like to walk in the rain.  I gain weight in the summer here because I spend most of my time indoors due to the heat.  Maybe I should just start walking in the house.  I don’t know the pacing might make the guys nervous.  You know how it is when a mom roams the house muttering to the Almighty!  Everyone gets nervous.  Some hellfire and brimstone might come their way.  Hmmm… It’s a thought.

Back to being still, at Mass today, I asked God to help me be still and praise Him.  It worked.  Peace settled over me.  I was able to pay attention better.

When I got home, I looked up Psalm 46:10 for context.   Psalm 46 is a song praising God for his refuge and protection.  Verse 1 starts the praise with “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  The song continues to instruct us to not fear natural disasters or nations’ rage because God is the refuge.  God has the power to protect.

Young’s Literal Translation uses the word ‘desist’ in verses 10 and 11:

¹⁰ Desist, and know that I [am] God, I am exalted among nations, I am exalted in the earth.

¹¹ Jehovah of hosts [is] with us, A tower for us [is] the God of Jacob! Selah.

Say what Holy Spirit?  Desist!  As in stop what I am doing and focus on You.  There it is.  I have the formula.  Desist reacting and acting.  Pause and pray.  Today I stopped moving and paused in the presence of God.

After Mass, at breakfast, my husband and I talked through a family problem without emotion.  We made sensible decisions after letting God in to guide us.  With a clear plan of action, we can move forward.   If I am being still I discover God’s guidance.  Now I need to practice being still.

The Peace of God be with you,

Milly