Daily Journal: 6 August

Be Still and Do Not Sin

The clamour in our minds can get loud. So loud we begin listening to it rather than the voice of God.

Stop for a moment and ask: Who is God? My voice? Or God’s voice?

Being still isn’t about stuffing our emotions down. It’s about recognising them and submitting them to the greater authority of Christ Jesus because we honour Him.

Romans 3:19-23 (NLT)

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

God is holy and in control. When we are still, we recognise that and seek Him.

Psalm 4:4 (TLB)

Stand before the Lord in awe, and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation.

The path to God’s ear comes by quieting the clamour inside and allowing God to be heard.

1 Samuel 12:10 (NLT)

“Then they cried to the Lord again and confessed, ‘We have sinned by turning away from the Lord. 

The voice of God may be quiet, but He carries full authority.

1 Kings 18:39 (NIV)

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

If we saw God with our eyes and our senses we would have a different experience of Him. He is terrifying in all of His fullness. God chooses for us to experience Him through faith, first, to test our hearts, to be given the chance of being made righteous through Christ Jesus, and receive His agape love. This is pure grace. And yet grace makes us accountable because we’ve come into relationship with Him. That’s a beautiful thing because accountability gives us boundaries and boundaries are a safety net. When we carry grace we carry responsibility to be still, to carry a repentant heart, and allow God to be in control.

Psalm 119:9-11 (NLT)

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

When we command our thoughts to be quiet and listen to God’s Word that we’ve hidden in our heart, we can say, in every circumstance, The Lord – He is God. The Lord – He is God.

Isaiah 30:15 (NLV)

The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In turning away from sin and in rest, you will be saved. Your strength will come by being quiet and by trusting.” But you would not.