Tuesday, April 19

Relax!

Scripture: Judges 3-4, Psalm 46, 1 Corinthians 6

Psalm 46:1–3 

1 God is our refuge and strength, 

a helper who is always found 

in times of trouble. 

2 Therefore we will not be afraid, 

though the earth trembles 

and the mountains topple 

into the depths of the seas, 

3 though its water roars and foams 

and the mountains quake with its turmoil. 

Psalm 46:10 

10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, 

exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

Observation

So much to pick from today…but I landed here.

The psalmist celebrates God as our refuge and strength and helper who is always with us in times of trouble.  Notice that God as our refuge doesn’t mean we don’t face trouble, but when we do, He is there for us.  So we will not be afraid.  We’re in good hands.  God is with us (v. 7, 11).  

The psalmist also celebrates God’s sovereignty over the nations.  He makes wars cease—I read this and prayed again for Ukraine.  I’m praying every day for the Lord to make that war cease, to bring both peace and justice for Ukraine.  And He commands us to stop fighting and know that He is God, exalted over all.  

The Hebrew word for “stop fighting” (or “be still” in most translations) literally means “to sink, relax, cease, be inactive.”  I like the picture of sinking into God as our refuge and trusting him and relaxing.  Pastor Michael pictured it in his Easter message as sitting back in a chair and relaxing.

Application

First, I’m praying to the Lord of Armies to bring peace to our war-torn world, in the Ukraine and beyond.  

Second, I’m praying for friends who are in the midst of contentious relationships, fractured marriages, that they will stop fighting, and relax and trust the Lord—and that the Lord will heal them and their relationships. 

Third, I want to live today—and every day—with a restful, relaxed, trusting spirit.  God is my refuge and strength, my “ever present help in trouble.”  In Paul’s words, “you are not your own; you’ve been bought with a price.”  I belong to God; I’m in His hands.  Relax.  

One of my pastors, Don Smith, used to talk about having a “spirit of relax.”  He trusted God and didn’t freak out—he relaxed in the Lord, knowing that God had him.  I want to live like that!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our ever present help in trouble.  Help us to relax and trust You!  Give us “the spirit of relax!”