Rest in God's Love and Strength

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
(Psalm 46)


This Psalm 46 is a tribute to God's love and the writer's trust that God will always be our strength. But how do we gain this faith and comprehension of God's love and protection?
The answer to that question is prayer. Prayer is our way to communicate with God, but it should not be a one way conversation where we talk and God listens. The conversation should go both ways. Conversation is a commitment to falling more and more in love with God. The practice of prayer challenges us to let go of our agendas and make room for God to surprise us with our truth and the truth of others. We commit not only to speak to God, but also to listen to him. Normal conversation goes both ways and in our desire to develop a relationship with God, we must both speak and listen.
The fundamental stance of the person of faith is to listen. When we practice listening, we become more and more aware of the internal and external things that distract us. We listen with the ear of our heart The word heart does not simply refer to a physical organ or the seat of our emotions. It also includes other layers of meaning, such as inner understanding, feelings, will, desire, conscience, and the seat of courage.
Contemplation in prayer joins us to the One who dwells within, and enables us to see the world with God’s eyes. The soul that is united with God can see the world with God’s eyes. A true contemplative spirituality seeks to enter more fully into the depths of reality by resting in God’s presence while God works in the soul.
We need to learn to rest in God's love and strength. Prayer and contemplation helps us to do just that.

Peace and Love,

Sue



"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)