WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:23.359 We're in a series called When We Pray. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.679 Not if we pray. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:28.960 Not you should pray. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:35.600 But when we pray, because the natural human instinct is prayer. 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:42.399 In some form, in some way, at some time, everybody prays. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:52.880 Everybody has some inkling or longing for something bigger than themselves to intervene and help or to be connected to. 00:00:55.280 --> 00:01:06.319 Last week we said, just as communication is the foundation for every relationship, like that's how you grow in intimacy. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:07.760 Prayer. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.280 It's the pathway to intimacy with God. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:16.560 And we're spending six weeks talking about how do we grow in prayer? 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:18.079 How do we grow in relationships? 00:01:18.159 --> 00:01:34.079 How do we move from prayer being this mysterious or this duty or this thing that you feel like you ought to do to this delight, this life-giving, soul-shaping communion, connection with your Heavenly Father. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:55.040 You know, in tomorrow's devotional, uh, Dane Ortland, uh, there's this incredible quote in his book, Deeper, writes this the deepest destiny of your life is to descend ever deeper with quiet yet ever-increasing intensity into the endless love of God. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:57.599 I mean, have you thought about that? 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:00.640 I don't know what you think about your destiny right now. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:03.680 I'm gonna manifest it, okay. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:06.799 Like, what's your destiny? 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:18.159 And it's like, I my destiny is to get straight A's, my destiny is to get into the right college, my destiny is to meet and marry the right person, my destiny is to be upward and mobile, my destiny. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:47.439 I don't know what you would say that D word is right there for your life, but but the deepest destiny, the heart's longing, like what you've been searching for and hungering for is something beyond what you can tangibly see and grasp to descend ever deeper, with a quiet yet ever-increasing intensity into the endless love of God. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.159 How do we do that when life's chaotic? 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:57.759 How do we do that when life is busy and full? 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:10.159 When it does feel like the mountains are falling into the sea around you and the earth is giving way and the world is freaking out. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:16.319 Like that seems really nice, and maybe I'll put it on a quote somewhere, Ryan. 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:20.159 But doesn't that feel unrealistic? 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:35.680 You know, one of the interesting things about the world, the way our world is designed, is the problem is it's it's designed so that we don't pay attention to that which really matters. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:47.120 Isn't it true that our eyes get caught off and our lives get consumed with things that when you look back on your life, you're going like, why was I so focused on that? 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.280 I'll give you an example. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:56.719 When I was in my early 20s, this last year we just this last year, this last week, we just celebrated my daughter's 18th birthday. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:59.199 Hello, um, I'm getting older. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:02.639 Uh, and she's amazing, she's wonderful, and it's so great. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:09.919 But it got me thinking about my my kids, and I remembered when my son was born. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:18.720 Uh, so Elle was born, I was smarter then, then I got dumber, I guess, and then my son was born, and when he was born, it was a Sunday. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.240 It was February 18th, it was a Sunday, 2007. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:30.160 He was born early in the morning, and I felt this intense pressure that I had to show up. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:36.560 I was a youth pastor, Sunday evening to pastor this little community of high schoolers. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:05:03.360 So, friends, can I tell you one of my regrets in life is I left my pre not longer, my wife in the hospital with our newborn baby boy to go be, you know, lead a high school group, which by the way, 15 years later, I don't have a clue what I said then, let alone do they have a clue what I said then? 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:13.199 See, the problem with our world, even in the spiritual realm, is we, and we can spiritualize and say is we give our attention to things that don't matter. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:16.720 And it's not saying that like showing up for ministry doesn't matter. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:22.800 It definitely matters, but we don't give our attention to the things in front of us that matter, that matter significantly. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:27.519 How do we give our attention to that which deeply and profoundly matters? 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:37.439 How do we live in such a space that we're attentive, not caught up with the pace, not caught up with somehow, you see, the reason I had to show up there is I had to be a success. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:39.920 It wasn't for people to meet with God. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.720 How do we pay attention to that which matters? 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.639 This morning, what I want to draw your attention to is just simply eight words. 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:51.920 I've read twice uh Psalm 46. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.759 It's the context for the eight words that we're gonna dive into. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:58.319 I I pray that these words are guiding words. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:10.480 I I hope my hope is that honestly, this would be feel like this divine invitation that out of it you wouldn't walk out feeling like, oh, I got to do all this stuff. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.879 Like you would walk out going like, oh, someone gave me permission. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.079 Someone gave me permission. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:22.959 What I wish somebody did, because I didn't know it as a young pastor in that moment. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:25.759 I wish my boss would have said, hey, it's a Sunday. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:26.879 Don't worry about it. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:27.600 Don't show up. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:29.600 You need to be with your wife. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:35.680 This is me saying, I'm giving you permission. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:36.959 Oh no, it's not me. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.839 It's God's word saying and giving you permission. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.839 The eight words, these eight words are powerful. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.680 These eight words are transforming. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:53.120 These eight words, my goodness, they they bring in peace in the midst of confusion, in the midst of anxiety and anxious thoughts. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.759 They bring in hope and life. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.519 Eight simple words. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:05.040 Be still and know that I am God. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.120 It's as simple as that. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:12.399 It's as difficult as that. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:18.480 Be still and know that I am God. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:35.279 Like imagine what would happen in your life if you felt the permission to be still and redirect your attention and recognize that he's God. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:38.000 He's in control. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.639 He's got it taken care of. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:45.199 He's not fretting or concerned. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:48.800 He's sovereign and in control. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:08:06.720 Just imagine like the anxiety that would just drip out of your body if we had this practice in our community of being still and knowing that he's God. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.000 Well, what does that look like? 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:12.160 I just want to take the minutes that we have together and just unpack these eight words. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.800 You're like, you thought you were going to get an eight-word sermon. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:19.360 No, you got eight words, but then there'll be more words behind the sermon there. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:21.040 Let's just break this down. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:22.000 Be still. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:26.959 Dallas Willard said, hurry is the great enemy of the soul. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:28.319 Be still. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.240 What does it mean to be still? 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:42.960 The word means to put an end to a state or activity, to sink down deep, to relax into, to drop or to let go, especially of the hands. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:44.240 Think about this, this verse. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:53.679 Imagine, imagine the permission, because I think when we hear be still, it's like it's like God reprimanding a child. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.200 Be still. 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:58.159 And certainly there is a little bit of that. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:00.320 Be still. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.200 But how different is it? 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:06.639 Hey, relax into. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:10.720 You ever shown up at like one of those spas? 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:14.399 I do it like once a year with my wife, um, but that's it. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:16.080 I I'm not a spa guy. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:19.840 Um, you probably took that, uh, you saw that already. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:32.720 But but they like, they the first they like give you, you know, um, I don't like the weird yeah, that you wear, and that's always makes me feel weird anyways, and they're like, relax. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:35.440 I'm like, I can't, I was relaxed in my normal clothes. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:43.200 Um, but you're wearing this, and they got this peaceful music, and they say, just just relax. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:48.320 And you just kind of sit there and you have your tea or water or whatnot. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:55.919 Like it's an invitation, it's not a command, it's a moment of pause to relax into. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:01.200 What would it look like if you just began to relax into the presence of God? 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:08.159 Instead of rushing into the day, you relaxed into the presence of God. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:21.840 Imagine how your day would shift and change and the pace and maybe your heart rate, if you said today, I just want to relax into your presence before I head off into my day. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:28.480 And normally what I do is rush off into my day, and I just kind of try to invite you into my rushing. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:30.960 Isn't it true? 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:35.039 Like for us, like Silicon Valley, we live at a pace, don't we? 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:37.519 Like busyness. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.840 It's a badge of honor. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:42.399 How are you doing? 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:43.919 Busy. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:49.519 And if you don't answer that way, it's code in here that you're a slacker and you're no good, right? 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.279 Like, I'm fantastic. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:52.639 Oh, I'm just refreshed. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.120 Like you can't say refreshed, you know, right? 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:56.639 Like, no, you can't be refreshed. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.480 You're doing life wrong. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:10:59.519 Right? 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.679 I mean, that's how we think. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.679 It's screwed up. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:07.279 You know, it's interesting. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.840 John Ortberg in his book Soul Keeping writes this: being busy is an outward condition, a condition of the body. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:16.480 It occurs when we have many things to do. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:19.440 Busyness is inevitable in modern culture. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:23.279 If you're alive today in North America, you are a busy person. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:23.919 Hello. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:31.919 And by the way, coming out of pandemic or whatever we are in, I don't care whatever it is we're in currently, it feels like it's more busy than it was before. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:32.480 Yeah? 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.399 That's the only amen I got was was on that. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:45.120 Being hurried, listen to this, is an inner condition, a condition of the soul. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:54.639 It means to be so preoccupied with myself and my life that I'm unable to be fully present with God, with myself and with other people. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.519 I'm unable to occupy the present moment. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:03.679 Busyness, listen, migrates to hurry when we let it squeeze God out of our lives. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:07.360 I cannot live in the kingdom of God with a hurried soul. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:11.120 I cannot rest in God with a hurried soul. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:12.639 Be still. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:15.919 Hurry is the enemy of the soul. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:17.919 Relax into the presence of God. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.519 And here's what's fascinating. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:22.799 Psalm 23, I always found this curious. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:27.279 Uh, you know, it's talking about God being our shepherd. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:35.039 And you know, one of the lines that always is intriguing to me is it says, the Lord is our shepherd, I shall not want. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.039 And then notice what it says next. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:43.120 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:53.440 Like there's something about this internal striving of the human condition that we need help to do this. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:59.039 It was true 3,000 years ago, and it's true today. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:07.759 And a shepherd with a sheep knows that he has to actually at times make the sheep enjoy and relax and take a break. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:19.759 It's like when my kids were really little and they're tired, and some of you parents know this, and they're like, hey, you're tired. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.200 I'm not tired. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:23.759 No, I'm fine. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.720 Well, you're actually miserable, let's be real. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:29.039 This is miserable to be around. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:37.840 But a parent sees their child and sees the state that they're in, and the child cannot see the state that they're in. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.559 They don't get it, they don't know it. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.000 I'm not tired. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:42.559 No. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.519 That's how a child responds. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:49.279 And they're responding, no, out of their tiredness. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:56.320 Friends, I just gotta let you know that you're tired and you don't know it. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:04.240 And you have a God with a great invitation that says, be still. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:09.600 And there's times where he says, I'm gonna make you lie down because I love you. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.480 It's in green pastures and you need to rest. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:15.919 And I know our culture says, bigger, better, next, bigger, better, next. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:20.399 Hurry, hurry, hurry, and it will crush your soul. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.559 Be still and know that I am God. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.679 It goes on, be still. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.679 Hurry is the great enemy of the soul. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.639 And then, and know, there's something you need to know. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:37.120 And it's literally, I love Brother Lawrence, and he's got this little book called Practicing the Presence of God. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.080 He's a monk from a long time ago. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:47.039 And and he had this thought that he could practice the presence of God anywhere at any time. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:57.360 And so, you know, it wasn't just when they had their daily prayers and when they were in the, you know, the monastery, he was a dishwasher at the monastery. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.919 And he's like, I can practice the presence of God. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:08.879 And so he began to practice the presence of God, of really knowing his presence and as he was washing dishes, as he was going about his day. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:14.000 And he just began to write simple thoughts that he had as he was practicing the presence of God. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:32.720 This word to know means to notice, to be cognizant or aware of a fact or specific piece of information, to be aware of or to understand or recognize, to observe or to see with our eyes, to perceive, to know by way of experience. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:38.480 I need to be still so that I can know by way of experience that you're God. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:44.159 Stillness is part of the pathway to knowing God's God, by the way. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:51.679 To turn your mind to something to care for, to see about, observe. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:16:12.799 William Berry writes this whether we are aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence, we are encountering God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who is trying to catch our attention, trying to draw us into a reciprocal conscious relationship. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.000 Be still, cease striving, relax into and know. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:23.679 Like like shift your attention, shift your perspective, shift your eyes. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:26.559 I don't know what the anxious thought of your day. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:28.799 In fact, I like the way John Orberg talks about it. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:31.279 He calls it the troubling thought. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:41.440 We all have these troubling thoughts that are consuming us that rob us of anxiety or rob us of peace and produce anxiety. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:48.799 The way he says it is simply a way of thinking that does not take God into account. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:57.200 What is that troubling thought that's robbing your peace that you begin to focus on, you look in, that you know. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:03.840 You know it by way of experience, you know it by way of focus, you know it because it has your attention. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:09.839 And whatever has your attention, not only is it what you gravitate towards, it begins to shape you. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:17.759 He says, be still, identify that troubling thought. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:21.200 It might be your marriage, it might be your work, it might be the economy. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:26.720 You might have just checked your 401k because you're on the verge of retirement, and then, oh, what in the world just happened? 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:28.559 I don't know if I can retire right now. 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.599 What is happening? 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.359 Am I ever going to be able to retire? 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:36.240 And we begin to go down that path without God. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.200 That's the problem. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.559 It's not the thought. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:50.720 It's what that thought does, is you begin to think that thought and go down that path as if God does not exist. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:18:01.279 And when you do that, it sucks you down into a spiral of anxious activity and it crushes the soul. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.920 Be still and know. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:21.119 Which means I have to shift my attention, and it's a practice, it's a practice, it's something I just need to begin to put into practice of shifting my attention to knowing who God is. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:31.039 Still and know what that I am God. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:38.160 Which means that you and I are not God. 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.440 And that's a very good thing. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:50.000 That he is God and you are not. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:54.799 In fact, the word in Hebrew for God is the right here is Elohim. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:19:00.720 It's the supernatural being who originated and rules over the universe, God's creative activity. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:10.480 Be still and recognize the supernatural being who originated and rules over the universe, his creative activity. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:19.839 Like, like your God and all that we know, see, and understand, you spoke one word and it came into existence. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:23.599 Can he handle what's going on in your world? 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.960 When we zoom out and we begin to see who he is. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:35.119 And then when Moses encountered God, he gave him his covenant name. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.359 Yahweh. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:45.680 I am ever-existing one, uncreated creator, sovereign one. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:53.519 Like he is the great I am, which means I am not, and what a relief. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:09.200 Because the source of so much of our striving, of so much of our worrying, of so much anxiety is the things that we're trying to do and be that it's God's alone to do and be. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:33.920 So every other pursuit is not life. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:40.559 He alone has life, and what he is now, he is eternally. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:55.920 Now the psalmist tells us be still, cease activity, relax into no, shift your attention from that troubling thought that he is God, the I am. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:02.240 Sigmund Mulwinkel writes this about the Hebrew thought. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:15.759 He says, To the Hebrew, to do, to be, does not mean to exist as all other beings and things do as well, but to be active, to express one's self and active being. 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:21.200 So the God who acts, or I am the God who really acts. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:30.319 See, is the invitation of God to cease your activity to see and recognize the God's has already been acting and working. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:41.920 Like be still relaxed into I'm not in control of my boss, and I can't change him. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.680 But God, you are in control. 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:54.640 God, I don't know how my kids are going to respond, and it seems like they're making some really bad decisions, but every time I get in it, it seems like I'm messing it up. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:58.720 But here's what I know is you're a good father and you love them more than me. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.759 And would you meet them? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.359 Because you're God. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:08.720 God, the way this like economy's looking right now is scaring me. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:23.519 And I don't know if I can get a job everywhere I'm going as they're doing these freezes, and but God, you are in control. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:30.400 And you're sovereign and you will provide. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:41.839 And I recognize that when I cease my activity, I finally recognize your activity and see how you're working and moving. 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:55.279 You know, throughout the Hebrew scriptures, the names of God took on special form, special meaning as they saw his activity in their lives, as they saw him work and move. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:00.480 And so they had names like these Yahweh Nisi, he is my banner. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:04.240 God declares that his banner over you is love. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:07.200 The banner is what you led out into the battlefield. 00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:10.319 He's saying, you know what is leading you is my love. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:14.079 Like my banner over you is my love. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:16.799 The protection ahead of you is my love. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:21.599 Like where you're headed into is my love. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:24.000 Yahweh Ira, he is my provider. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:29.680 As we see, as we strive and struggle, he's God's going, like I want to provide for you. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:35.200 Would you step back and let me let me provide for you? 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:38.720 Yahweh Ra, he is my shepherd. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:52.240 The tender, loving care of a shepherd to provide for the sheep what they need the most, whether they want it in the moment or not. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:24:02.079 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for your rod is for you're with me, your rod and your staff. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:05.440 They guard and protect me. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:10.559 Yahweh Tisakenu, he is my righteousness. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:21.039 Like some of our striving and some of our anxiety has to do with we're somehow trying to measure up to become the right person. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:32.799 Like somehow there's this list of the perfect person, and sometimes it's in the religious realm, and other times it's just in human like everything, but we're just trying to be and somehow level up and get better. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:40.799 And the good news of the gospel is because this when God sees you, he sees Jesus. 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:46.559 You're covered, you're clothed in his righteousness. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:52.240 Like you have the imputed, literally placed upon righteousness of Christ. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.519 You can't earn it. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:55.440 There's nothing you can do to deserve it. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:58.240 It's not because you were a good boy or girl this day. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:00.960 It's not because you did something bad, so you lost it. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.839 It's yours. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.720 It's covered. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.240 You are covered in Christ. 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:07.119 So he sees Christ when he sees you. 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.480 His righteousness is all over you. 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:19.279 Man, what freedom we would walk in if we just realized, man, I'm covered in the righteousness of God. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:23.359 Yahweh Rafa, he is my healer. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.319 He's my healer. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:43.279 He meets me in the depths of my brokenness, my doubts, my worries, my concerns, my relationships, my physical needs. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.680 He is my healer. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:48.799 Yahweh Shalom, He is my peace. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:54.079 He's my peace, He is wholeness and life. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:26:05.519 In fact, the Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 4 would say it this way: don't be anxious about anything, but with prayer and petition, present your request to God. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:11.759 And then it says this, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.000 Like God's peace is not passive, it's proactive. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:20.160 That word guard is the same word for a centurion. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:24.720 It's like his peace stands guard when we be still. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:30.160 When we be still, when we are still, I speak for a living. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:36.160 When we're still, his peace guards your heart and your mind. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:41.279 We are then shifting our attention in his peace stands as I'm gonna guard you in this moment. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:47.839 Be still and know that I'm God. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:52.640 What would it look like for you to practice this this week? 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:58.720 Now, I'm not talking about 30 minutes. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:02.480 I'm not talking about 20 minutes. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:05.279 I'm talking about a moment. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:11.920 Like set your phone, maybe it's at 8:30 a.m., maybe it's at 12 p.m., maybe it's at 7 p.m. 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.400 Just to go off. 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:17.119 And whether you'd be still. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.480 And you would stop. 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:29.039 And you know he's God, where you shift from those troubling thoughts and invite God into those thoughts and recognize who he is. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:38.640 Relax into the presence of God. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.599 I want us to do that as we close. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:47.119 Just simply relax into this presence. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:48.720 Stillness is hard for us. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:50.160 Silence is hard for us. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:52.720 We like noise because it keeps us distracted. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:57.440 We like noise because then we don't have to deal with the inner stuff going on. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:04.480 And that's the reason silence is hard, is because the minute we're silent, all the stuff that we've been ignoring bubbles up, doesn't it? 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:11.599 But silence gives space for our soul to speak, to know what's really going on inside. 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:19.920 I found it helpful to kind of still myself with three kind of steps. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:25.119 One is just physical stillness, where I just stop and I'm still. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:29.359 I'm a drummer, uh, and so drummers are naturally fidgety people. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:32.559 I'm always like, I can barely sit still. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:38.319 But it's like I literally get in a very comfortable, relaxed into posture. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:44.160 And maybe you just get in right now, get into a comfortable, relaxed posture. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:48.480 When I'm doing this at home, I have to have my phone in the other room. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:50.799 Because this has trained me so well. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:55.599 If it's sitting next to me, I just my my hand, it's like it does it works without my mind. 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.519 It just grabs it, it just goes. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:29:00.079 And I'm like, why am I on Instagram? 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:02.400 I don't know, I don't know. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:05.440 So I literally get technology out. 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:08.240 Physical stillness. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:13.599 And take a moment and just thoughtfully, you go, I'm gonna physically get still. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:17.599 Breathe in, breathe out. 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:20.079 And then mental stillness. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:29.599 When I do this at home, I actually keep my to-do list because the minute I try to get still, I all my to-do list shows up, and that's okay. 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.200 I just write it down. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:34.559 So I don't forget about it, and it's off my mind. 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:40.720 But then the troubling thoughts are what begin to come in. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:47.039 And you identify them, and then you just bring them to Jesus. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.519 You bring him into the conversation. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:59.359 And then there's emo the emotional stillness, it's the things that are going on in your heart, because the minute we're silent, it does begin to bubble up the internal. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:05.440 It might be fears or concerns, it might be anger or worry. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:12.160 And you just begin to bring those to your Heavenly Father. 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:20.400 So it's just take a moment to be still and know that he's God. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:24.400 If you want to close your eyes, you can. 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:27.039 If you don't, don't worry about it. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:33.519 Breathe in, breathe out, get your body in a posture where you're just comfortable. 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:38.960 I find it helpful to have two feet on the ground, just kinda gets me balanced. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:46.960 What's the troubling thoughts that keep you awake at night? 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:53.920 What do you worry about in the morning? 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:02.559 What does it look like to bring God into those thoughts? 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:10.880 To invite God into those moments. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:27.119 Maybe you're feeling emotions, maybe there's a tightness of anxiety. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.599 Identify it. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:34.160 Maybe it's fear, worry, discouragement, depression. 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:40.000 And bring God into the middle of that. 00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:01.039 Would you just recognize that he's God? 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:08.720 That he's a good, loving heavenly father. 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:49.920 Father, I pray for my friends this week. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:33:10.079 They would hear your invitation, your ever-present moments, welcoming and beckoning them to have just a quiet space, a minute or two, to be with you, to settle our soul, to calm our worries, to meet us in our anxious space. 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:16.720 May we hear your whispers, your voice. 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.319 In Jesus' name. 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.000 Amen. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:28.640 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:33.279 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:35.519 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:41.440 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.