Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Boundaries”
Our Bible verse for today: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “We need peace and quiet.”
One of the greatest needs for most Christians today is periods of simple peace and quiet. For most of us life is seldom truly peaceful and quiet. The alarm goes off, we pop out of bed, and we’re off to the races. Our days are usually filled with jobs and school and chores, along with plenty of demands and expectations placed on us by others.
Several years ago I wrote an article entitled “Room for the Singing of Angels” (you can read it at http://www.JimMersereauBooks.com). In that article I explained that many Christians fill their lives right to the outer edges with as much activity as they can possibly squeeze in, often even spilling over beyond what they can really handle. Instead of allowing that, I argue for intentionally establishing a buffer zone of quiet inactivity. In other words, all the activity needs to stop well short of the outer edges of your life, and in-between the end of the activity and the outer edge of what you can tolerate in your life, there needs to be a buffer zone of quiet and peace and rest.
Then there’s the issue of noise. We live in a noisy world – much of it of our own making. In many households the television or radio comes on almost as soon as we get out of bed. In the car, more noise. At work, more still. When was the last time you experienced real quietness? I’m talking about a deep and profound stillness where no manmade noise can be heard.
We need this. More than we realize. That’s why in Psalm 46:10 God tells us to stop all the activity, turn off all the noise, and just be still. He doesn’t want us to do anything, He doesn’t want us to say anything, He wants us to be quiet – just be still and sit there with Him for a while.
When it comes to establishing appropriate boundaries in our lives, we have to be intentional and firm about making the activity and the noise stop for a while. We need peace and quiet. We need to be still and know that He is God.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 