READ

Psalm 46:8-11: ⁸ Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings devastation on the earth. ⁹ He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He sets wagons ablaze. ¹⁰ “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” ¹¹ The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

EXAMINE

The opening phrase of Psalm 46:10 translates to, “stop your fighting,” “be still,” or “cease striving.” God declares for both His people and His foes to recognize His power and give up struggling against His purposes. He stops wars, shatters weapons, and conquers kingdoms without breaking a sweat. Our call and privilege is to know Him, to see Him high and exalted, and humble ourselves to His great, unshakable plan.

APPLY

So much of our time and energy gets wrapped up in building our own little kingdoms. We work hard to get the promotion, establish our home, gain the reputation, or any number of other achievements. We even let our faith get reduced to an exercise in effort we can control. We falsely believe church attendance, moral choices, and good works earn God’s pleasure. In Psalm 46 God urges, “cease striving! Just be still and know me. Understand how much bigger and higher and greater I am than your preoccupations. Don’t reduce me to a set of rules, make room for ME!”

PRAY

Ask God to search your heart and reveal where you are striving right now. Are you striving to build your own little kingdom at work or home? Are you trying to control your own faith by following rules instead of experiencing true communion with God? Pray that God would still your heart and show you He is exalted among the nations. Pray you can humble yourself and know Him better today.