2 Chronicles 20:17
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
We are such pains in the necks, sometimes. Like figidty toddlers, some of us childishly just can't stand or sit still. Some of us are spiritually retarded because we don't listen well, suffer from itchy backsides and do silly things that are just wrong, inspite of whatever common-sense and Godly upbringing we have.
True character only comes about when we are tested in situations. Not everytime in our lives will we encounter dramatic situations like that of King Jehoshaphat as he faced 3 opposing armies and faced imminent doom. Such a fiery test of persecution and negativism would automatically cause many of us to scramble for God.
However, to some of us, all we need is a test of nothingness and wilderness where we feel the "Oh-so-aimless" feeling. Suddenly, the stillness of the season causes us to start crumbling as life stagnates undramatically and moves in meaningless fashion.
In this modern day of instant gratification where life is about Me, Myself and I, I believe there are aimless times like these where we are required to stand still and be tested for our sheer ability to wait. All we are required is to not move and faithfully look. Failing to do which, we start taking matters into our own hands and self-destruct.
King Saul is one key example which demonstrates this principle of a figidity person, who simply didn't wait.
1 Samuel 13:8 onwards records:
"Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering."
Because of his disobedience to wait, Saul took matters into his own hands and lit the burnt offering. This grave mistake of "doing-when-you-are-not-instructed" resulted in Saul and his future generations loosing the kingship.
Like Peter as he fished all night but he caught no fish, sometimes we may have all the experience, demonstrate all the effort and do what's required. But as God dictates, we'll reap nothing and everything is futile. I find that the beauty of Christian living is we are not required to think so many steps ahead of our days. "Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow" - in order words, do what you need today, and when you have done it, stand still in God and observe. But yet many of us can't resist shuffling ourselves.
On the last night of my mission trip sharing in Muar, I learnt the simplest lesson of having to submit and trust God's sovereignty and do whatever simple instruction is required. Thereafter to stand still and see God at work.
Like parents who often have to snap at their figidity children to stay still and stop moving about because we'll just waste energy and could well hurt ourselves. I speak to those of you who feel that even though you are faithfully attending church, yet you perceive yourself to be drifting around aimlesslessly and the things of God just don't seem to speak to you nor direct you. Today and for the rest of this season, can you "STOP FIGIDITING!".
May you learn to stand still in spite of your circumstances (or lack of it) and just see. You could be required to just look for a "long" time, but take heed in your spirit man that you need to look at realise that inspite of it all, God's salvation is still with you. Just stop trying to move about and do anything, please.
Blessings,
M.
"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway." (Proverbs 8:34)
10 December 2006
Stand Still & See
2 Chronicles 20:17
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
We are such pains in the necks, sometimes. Like figidty toddlers, some of us childishly just can't stand or sit still. Some of us are spiritually retarded because we don't listen well, suffer from itchy backsides and do silly things that are just wrong, inspite of whatever common-sense and Godly upbringing we have.
True character only comes about when we are tested in situations. Not everytime in our lives will we encounter dramatic situations like that of King Jehoshaphat as he faced 3 opposing armies and faced imminent doom. Such a fiery test of persecution and negativism would automatically cause many of us to scramble for God.
However, to some of us, all we need is a test of nothingness and wilderness where we feel the "Oh-so-aimless" feeling. Suddenly, the stillness of the season causes us to start crumbling as life stagnates undramatically and moves in meaningless fashion.
In this modern day of instant gratification where life is about Me, Myself and I, I believe there are aimless times like these where we are required to stand still and be tested for our sheer ability to wait. All we are required is to not move and faithfully look. Failing to do which, we start taking matters into our own hands and self-destruct.
King Saul is one key example which demonstrates this principle of a figidity person, who simply didn't wait.
1 Samuel 13:8 onwards records:
"Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering."
Because of his disobedience to wait, Saul took matters into his own hands and lit the burnt offering. This grave mistake of "doing-when-you-are-not-instructed" resulted in Saul and his future generations loosing the kingship.
Like Peter as he fished all night but he caught no fish, sometimes we may have all the experience, demonstrate all the effort and do what's required. But as God dictates, we'll reap nothing and everything is futile. I find that the beauty of Christian living is we are not required to think so many steps ahead of our days. "Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow" - in order words, do what you need today, and when you have done it, stand still in God and observe. But yet many of us can't resist shuffling ourselves.
On the last night of my mission trip sharing in Muar, I learnt the simplest lesson of having to submit and trust God's sovereignty and do whatever simple instruction is required. Thereafter to stand still and see God at work.
Like parents who often have to snap at their figidity children to stay still and stop moving about because we'll just waste energy and could well hurt ourselves. I speak to those of you who feel that even though you are faithfully attending church, yet you perceive yourself to be drifting around aimlesslessly and the things of God just don't seem to speak to you nor direct you. Today and for the rest of this season, can you "STOP FIGIDITING!".
May you learn to stand still in spite of your circumstances (or lack of it) and just see. You could be required to just look for a "long" time, but take heed in your spirit man that you need to look at realise that inspite of it all, God's salvation is still with you. Just stop trying to move about and do anything, please.
Blessings,
M.
"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway." (Proverbs 8:34)
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
We are such pains in the necks, sometimes. Like figidty toddlers, some of us childishly just can't stand or sit still. Some of us are spiritually retarded because we don't listen well, suffer from itchy backsides and do silly things that are just wrong, inspite of whatever common-sense and Godly upbringing we have.
True character only comes about when we are tested in situations. Not everytime in our lives will we encounter dramatic situations like that of King Jehoshaphat as he faced 3 opposing armies and faced imminent doom. Such a fiery test of persecution and negativism would automatically cause many of us to scramble for God.
However, to some of us, all we need is a test of nothingness and wilderness where we feel the "Oh-so-aimless" feeling. Suddenly, the stillness of the season causes us to start crumbling as life stagnates undramatically and moves in meaningless fashion.
In this modern day of instant gratification where life is about Me, Myself and I, I believe there are aimless times like these where we are required to stand still and be tested for our sheer ability to wait. All we are required is to not move and faithfully look. Failing to do which, we start taking matters into our own hands and self-destruct.
King Saul is one key example which demonstrates this principle of a figidity person, who simply didn't wait.
1 Samuel 13:8 onwards records:
"Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering."
Because of his disobedience to wait, Saul took matters into his own hands and lit the burnt offering. This grave mistake of "doing-when-you-are-not-instructed" resulted in Saul and his future generations loosing the kingship.
Like Peter as he fished all night but he caught no fish, sometimes we may have all the experience, demonstrate all the effort and do what's required. But as God dictates, we'll reap nothing and everything is futile. I find that the beauty of Christian living is we are not required to think so many steps ahead of our days. "Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow" - in order words, do what you need today, and when you have done it, stand still in God and observe. But yet many of us can't resist shuffling ourselves.
On the last night of my mission trip sharing in Muar, I learnt the simplest lesson of having to submit and trust God's sovereignty and do whatever simple instruction is required. Thereafter to stand still and see God at work.
Like parents who often have to snap at their figidity children to stay still and stop moving about because we'll just waste energy and could well hurt ourselves. I speak to those of you who feel that even though you are faithfully attending church, yet you perceive yourself to be drifting around aimlesslessly and the things of God just don't seem to speak to you nor direct you. Today and for the rest of this season, can you "STOP FIGIDITING!".
May you learn to stand still in spite of your circumstances (or lack of it) and just see. You could be required to just look for a "long" time, but take heed in your spirit man that you need to look at realise that inspite of it all, God's salvation is still with you. Just stop trying to move about and do anything, please.
Blessings,
M.
"Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway." (Proverbs 8:34)
