Psalm 46

I don’t know about you but 2020 has been one of the weirdest years of my life. Many memes could be used here to help you understand where I’m coming from, but my guess is you feel the same. 

The thing about 2020 that has been the hardest wrap my head around is how hurried I feel, and how chaotic the world seems, even though I’ve probably spent more time at home this year than any year since I was a kid. And a lot of what seems like the ever-presence of bad news.

Take a minute to ready Psalm 46, then come back to this post.

Did you get a sense of the tumult that the psalmists were seeing? I’m sure you did. But did you also see the deep confidence that they showed in God?

In these verses are some valuable lessons on “Stillness in Praise.”

Acknowledge the Noise

Whatever struggles the psalmists were facing they didn’t hide from it. They knew there was noise and upheaval. 

“2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, 
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” 
Psalm 46:2–3

Seeing and Acknowledging is not the same thing as fearing.

We can learn something from this. It’s ok to acknowledge that things are weird. It’s even good to admit when things look bad. This is not fear.

Choose Stillness

These men were writing in or shortly after a time of great noise and difficulty, yet notice their focus:

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” 
Psalm 46:1

“The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” 
Psalm 46:11

They focused on the fact that God was with them. They Chose Stillness in the knowledge that the LORD is God.

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” 
Psalm 46:10

We have this same choice. We can’t always control how things are going around us, but we can control how we respond to those things.

We can Choose Stillness.

Practice Stillness

Choosing Stillness is also a Practice. We won’t default to stillness, panic and fear are the human defaults. But just as we’ve been seeing with Praise, we can practice stillness. 

How does this Look?

Know God

Learn about God. Immerse yourself in scripture. This blog has made some good recommendations for how to start on that, but the short version is this: Start a daily Bible reading habit, and grow in Scripture memorization and meditation.

Practice God’s Presence

Throughout your day, talk to God. Think through your actions like a conversation with God on how to live. He is there, live like it. 

I don’t mean this to cause shame or guilt, though we may also have to confess somethings and repent in this process. The presence of God brought these psalmists great comfort and confidence, and the more I practice living conscious of God’s presence the more I know the comfort and confidence it brings. 

Your Turn

Memorize Psalm 46:10-11. When the noise of life feels like it’s going to overwhelm you remember these verses and take refuge in the Stillness God’s presence provides.