Maybe Being Still is Simply Being Dedicated?

Hello friends and welcome back to Dedicate. In the last part of this series, we talked about steadfast behavior. We also broke up the word by defining 'stead' and 'fast'. While doing this, we found other words for 'stead', which are 'standing', 'footing', and 'position'. We also found that all of these words are the action response of dedication.

But dedication isn't just about rising, standing, doing - but it's also about being still, listening for God, and reading His word. At the end of the last blog I added how I want to show my dedication with my movement and with my sitting still. So, let's do that for a moment - be still.

He says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Psalm 48:10

Now let's define still - deep silence or calm; stillness. Find silence reserved just for listening to God. Find a calm place to drown out the whole world, for just a moment, to hear the quiet still whisper and to feel the wordless groans of the Holy Spirit. Silence... How to find silence in this crazy, loud, technology filled world we live in? Calm... How do we achieve calm in such scary times? But yet, He says...

"Be still and know that I am God."

Be still and KNOW. Google defines know in two ways:

• to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.

• to have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with.

Looking at the first definition, this one might help you to 'know' about an earthly subject. When it comes to God, you can observe, inquire, or gather information all you want, but that isn't going to help you 'KNOW', not really. If you look at the second one - developing a relationship with Him through spending time with Him. This is a way that will strengthen your 'KNOW', but the only way we can fully grasp 'KNOW' is through faith.

Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

Assurance... Assurance is defined as a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

Jeremiah 29:11

Would having faith in this promise help us to rise and show our dedication through our calling? Would 'KNOWing' this promise help us be still, to be calm, when kids are screaming, when the television is on full blast in the other room, and when the earth seems to be falling down around us? Would this, just fully accepting this bit of information, help us to dedicate our lives the the one who died for us?

Maybe 'being still' doesn't have to be assigned to a time when you can grasp silence and calm, maybe being still is just... being still, even in the chaos. Maybe it's just directing our attention to Him and listening for Him over everything else. Maybe being still is simply being.... Being focused, being intentional, being determined, being faithful. Do you recognize these words? These are some of the qualities of a dedicated person that we went over a couple of blogs ago.

Maybe being still is simply being dedicated. Hmm... Well isn't that something! I had no idea how this blog was going to end when I started writing it, but God led it exactly where it needed to go. I am currently in awe of how much His hand has been on this series.

Dedication... Dedication takes, well, dedication. So, be still in the midst of chaos today, my friends. KNOW that He is God that He has promised you that you will prosper. Smile and rest in the comfort that is our Father.