The Christian Life: Don’t just do something; Stand there!

March 24, 2008 | By Brother Bill In Letters from Bill |

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When I Am Still “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” -Psalm 46:10

Surprise, surprise! Another song has led me down the path of discovery in the Lord. As before, even though this “lesson” was intended for me, I want to share it with you. Perhaps you will find some application in your life as well.

This time it started with what is getting to be a habit with me, another Watermark song–one with simple, yet deep, lyrics accompanied by a haunting melody. You can play the song at the end of this letter and together we can explore the words and the journey on which the Lord led me because of them.

Practicing the presence of God has become my passion over the years since I found that little book by Brother Lawrence on my “Walk to Emmaus” retreat a number of years ago. (You can see more about this book on the Home page). This drive which the Lord awakened in me has shaped the way He uses when He speaks to me.

Most of what He says to me and shows me is in response to my main request of Him, which I repeat daily: “Above all else, Lord, I want to know You more. Let me become more intimately acquainted with You day by day, moment by moment.”

In spite of the halting steps I seem to take; despite the fact that I still fail to “practice His presence” for what seems most of the time, He remains faithful. He gently woos me and I know He is answering my prayer.

I think of the countless times He has drawn me to the words from the book of James: “If you need wisdom–if you want to know what God wants you to do–ask him and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” (1:5)

He points out the word “gladly.” He says to me, “Bill, I’m not trying to hold anything back from you or keep any secrets about what I want you to do with your life, or about who I am.” He says to me, “I WANT to share this information with you, I’m GLAD to do so.” And, if this weren’t enough, He says, “I won’t resent your asking!”

But aren’t we told, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)

Yes, but the next verse in 1^st Corinthians 2 tells me, “But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets.” (1 Cor. 2:10)

That passage goes on to say, “God has actually given us His Spirit…so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (2:12)

How could it be otherwise? The God who told me I should ask Him if I needed wisdom is the same God who provided the means for me to get the answers through His Holy Spirit, Whom I received when I accepted Christ Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life.

So why, many times, do I not have a clue as to what God wants me to do in any given situation? If God is so eager to “transmit” wisdom to me why am I not “receiving” it? Well, that’s the cue for the song I mentioned. It says what I want to say much more expressively than I, going from problem to solution. Then He brings me to the point where I realize I am being caught up in “working” and trying too hard to achieve something He wants to give me on His own.

He says to me, “Don’t just do something; Stand there!”

In other words, “Spend some time with Me. Concentrate on Me. Get quiet and still and commune with me. I do not have your answers; I AM your answer! I do not provide for you; I AM your provision! I do not give you wisdom; I AM your wisdom!”

And that is when I see:

“The more I get alone, the more I see I need to get alone more.”

That’s just the first line of the song, and yet it speaks volumes to me. When we take the time to get alone with the Lord, just as Jesus modeled for us, it’s like the best time of my life. It’s far better even than those times when we are with friends having a great time and say, “You know, we ought to do this more often!” We say that because we don’t do it often enough, just as we don’t keep appointments with the Lord.

And what happens when I do get alone? The song continues:

“‘Cause just when I think that I’m alone Your Spirit calls out to me.”

Then, if I sit in the silence, something happens:

“And even silence has a song ’cause that’s when You come sing over me.”

When I realize I need to “get alone more”, I make this request of my Heavenly Father:

“Still…let me be still. Let me be okay with the quiet in my heart. Still…I want to be still. I’m so quick to move instead of listening to You. Shut my mouth, crush my pride, give me the tears of a broken life…still.”

And what is the major thing that distracts me from this silence, this wonderful communion with the Lord?

“Oh this world, it falls around me and flutters all its beauty in my eyes. But let me choose the solitude. Simplicity has always simply changed my life.”

Lord, I say, let me not look at the world to the extent it distracts me from You. I must be IN the world but not OF it. And when I become still, when I make a decision of my will to seek solitude, I realize that “simplicity has always simply changed my life” (I love it!). When I stop being so quick to move myself, He takes over:

“And even stillness makes me move ’cause that’s when my heart learns to dance with You.”

We long for those times of intimacy with the Father, so we say to Him:

“Still…let me be still. Let me be okay with the quiet in my heart. Still…I want to be still. I’m so quick to move instead of listening to you. I’m your child. Tame my heart. Obedience to me impart…still.”

What did Paul say? “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.” (Rom. 7:15). So, Father, I’m asking You to do for me something I cannot do for myself; something I want with all my heart but do not have the ability to do; something that is for my great benefit but which I cannot accomplish: Still me. Tame me. Impart obedience to me.

Impart means to give, convey, or grant as if from a store. Father, from Your great storehouse I ask you to GRANT me obedience. I can’t work it up myself–I can’t do what I know is right……….but I ask you to grant it, meaning permit as a right, favor, or privilege.

The song continues:

“Hold me. Cleanse me. Change me, Oh God. Change me. Change me while I am still. Let me be still and know that You are God and You’re always enough.”

“Still…I want to be still. To take all that I am and simply lift it up.”

“Shut my mouth. Crush my pride. Give me the tears of a broken life…Still”

Psalm 4:4 tells me, “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”

So I ask you Father to do as Jesus did and command me to be still:

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was great calm.” (Mark 4:39 KJV)

“I’m your child. Tame my heart. Obedience to me impart. Shut my mouth. Crush my pride. Give me the tears of a broken life.”

Father, still me.

Love,
Brother Bill

Now, listen to the song as you read the words:

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Still

The more I get alone
The more I see I need to get alone more, more
Cause just when I think that I’m alone
Your Spirit calls out to me
And even silence has a song
Cause that’s when You come
Sing over me

Still, let me be still
Let me be okay

With the quiet in my heart
Still, I want to be still
I’m so quick to move
Instead of listening to You
Shut my mouth
Crush my pride
Give me the tears
Of a broken life,
Still

Oh this world, it falls around me
And flutters all its beauty in my eyes
But let me choose the solitude
Simplicity has always simply changed my life
Cause even stillness makes me move
Cause that’s when my heart
Learns to dance with You

Still, let me be still
Let me be okay
With the quiet in my heart
Still, I want to be still
I’m so quick to move
Instead of listening to You
I’m Your child
Tame my heart
Obedience
To me impart
Still

La la la la la, Hold me
La la la la la, Cleanse me
La la la la la, Change me, Oh God
Change me while I am
Still, let me be still
And know that You are God
And You’re always enough
Still, I want to be still
To take all that I am
And simply lift it up

Shut my mouth
Crush my pride
Give me the tears
Of a broken life,
Still