Devotionals for the Heart: God wants us to be still and trust Him to guide us

God Wants Us to Be Still and Trust Him
A devotional by Kelly Patterson

He says, “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 (NIV)

When I received an email last week asking if I could write a devotional for this month, my first thought was, “I am too busy! I just don’t have time.”

I almost replied to decline the opportunity, but I felt a check in my spirit. Too busy? Most everything I write and talk about is stillness and not allowing “busyness” to distract from slowing down and tuning in to God. How can stillness be what God has drawn me to if I can’t do it? And how did I almost get back to this place where I am running on fumes? I said yes because sitting down to write a message feels like hitting a pause button for me. I needed that. We all need pauses.

God brought me to the ministry of stillness years ago. You see, I am an excellent plate spinner. In honest and humble opinion, I excel at multitasking. Therefore, I was shocked when, about 15 years ago, one after another, plates I had so perfectly balanced began to fall and I began to experience failure in certain aspects of my life. People weren’t cooperating with my plans, and it turns out, they really weren’t appreciating my efforts to control them. And when things weren’t going according to my plans, I got mad at people, and then, at God! I remember thinking, "God, I am doing all the things alone, can you help me out a little?" 

Turns out, He didn’t need all of what I was doing. He may have even tipped a few of those plates. How arrogant I was before the first few plates fell. I was saying, in essence, “God, I’ve got this. I’ll call you when I need You.” But it doesn't work that way.

If God really is sovereign and trustworthy, and it is He who controls and directs, I do not need to live my life in a busy spin. When I am functioning correctly, under full submission to Jesus Christ and getting direction from the Holy Spirit, He leads me to quiet waters every time. The storm still swirls around me, but even as I sit here and focus on who God is, He quiets the swirling in my soul. He gives me rest.

I need to do this every day. Stop being driven by the tyranny of the “to-do” list. Stop stomping around as if anyone’s world is dependent on me. I need to give everything to God, trust Him and learn to rest. I can say no to things, so I have space to say yes to the things God is calling me to. I recommend to everyone who feels too busy to pause: Stop and write a devotional or a letter to God. By doing this, you are simply pausing to tune into God and ask Him what He thinks you should do.

We need to remind ourselves who God is and where He sits in our attention. All goes better when our attention is on Him.

Let’s Pray: God, forgive me for rushing into my day, thinking what I need to get done is more important than time with You. Help me quiet my soul and find rest in You. You are also so faithful to encourage my stillness. May I start each day remembering Your Presence so I can be more aware as I go about my day. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Be Still and Know” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest)” by Kari Jobe. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Coming from a Mormon childhood and agnostic belief, Kelly Patterson found Jesus Christ after wrestling with God for many years. 

Kelly has a hunger for the Word and has spent a lifetime following Jesus and going (not always joyfully) where the Holy Spirit leads. It has been a roller coaster, but Jesus has been with her the entire ride. Kelly has a passion for sharing the freedom she found in Jesus with believers and unbelievers alike.

Kelly is a wife, mother of four adult children and has two grandchildren. Kelly still enjoys cultivating intimacy with God, time with family and friends, pickleball and her job at a mental health clinic. Kelly considers life with God an adventure that she loves to share with others.

~*~
Connect with Kelly:
Website: Kellyannpatterson.wordpress.com

Devotionals for the Heart: We should trust God and let Him fight for us

It’s Not Your Battle
A devotional by Kelly Patterson

And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

—2 Chronicles 20:15 (NKJV)

There is so much darkness around us in our world today. 

I went to sleep last night worried about so many things, both personal and global.

I woke up the next morning with this tune in my head about how the battle is not ours; it belongs to God. What a wonderful way to wake up! God knows the words we need when we have no words. He gave me that song for this very morning. But do I believe it? Do I really believe God is going to fight my battles?

If you were going through a dark time, maybe I would tell you that He’s going to fight your battles. But when I’m struggling, my first instinct is fear, closely followed by a little fight.

In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat caught wind that the Ammonites, Moabites and others were coming to battle against him. He was outnumbered. He was genuinely afraid, yet He turned to God in prayer and called his people together for a time of fasting. I wish that was my first resort every time. I tend to worry first.

I often wonder why some seasons have to be such a battle. Doesn’t God want all the good things for us? However, I wonder if God gave me everything I thought I needed then would I really seek Him? It really is having a need that drives me into my deepest prayers. I once heard that a plant deprived of water and nutrients is forced to grow deep roots. I am like that plant. I do not draw as close to God when all my needs are met. Maybe that’s a reason why God allows the hard things to happen to us in this life on Earth. I desire depth in my relationship with God but I can’t have that when I am grasping for control. The battle belongs to the Lord. 

When I turn to God with all my thoughts and worries, He reminds me that He is there and that I can trust Him. He has been faithful to me over and over again. Every time I experience a new trial and trust God to carry me through, my faith legs become less wobbly. When I know God is holding me up, I am able to stand stronger. I look back and see all He has done, and I am quicker to anticipate what He is going to do. I simply cannot do this on my own. I cannot fight my own battles. I can’t fight my kid’s battles. That is by design. God reminded me this morning that the battle belongs to Him. He fights for me.

Just like the song “Battle Belongs” by Phil Wickham says (and I paraphrase): I can fight this battle on my knees as I pray to God because that is where the real power is found. I can bow before God, lay my battles at His feet, then trust that He will victorious and He will prevail.

Finally, I can rest because God will fight for me.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Help me remember that You love me and You fight my battles for me. Help me to remember to come to You first, humbly seeking to see Your face. I have seen You do so many wonderful things. Please let me see You work again, in these current situations that seem beyond my control. Thank You for reminding me that You really do fight my battles for me.

In Jesus’s Name I pray.

Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “Battle Belongs” by Phil Wickham. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “I Will Fear No More” by The Afters. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Coming from a Mormon childhood and agnostic belief, Kelly Patterson found Jesus Christ after wrestling with God for many years. 

Kelly has a hunger for the Word and has spent a lifetime following Jesus and going (not always joyfully) where the Spirit leads. It has been a roller coaster, but Jesus has been with her the entire ride. Kelly has a passion for sharing the freedom she found in Jesus with believers and unbelievers alike.

Kelly is a wife, mother of four adult children and has two grandchildren. Kelly still enjoys cultivating intimacy with God, time with family and friends, pickleball and her job at a mental health clinic. Kelly considers life with God an adventure that she loves to share with others.

~*~
Connect with Kelly:
Website: Kellyannpatterson.wordpress.com