Selah

Alright, so I guess at this point I'm supposed to post something about New Year's resolutions or something like that. Part of me rebels. It says, "Yuck! Do I have to do that?" The other part says, "Just shut up and write something profound."

Hmm...

Here's the deal. A few weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, Beth and I were on our way home from church (yeah, I know, the whole "we are the church" thing...). Beth asked what I had planned for the rest of the day. I said, "Well, I'll probably try to get a few hours of work in, " to which she replied, "When was the last time you just took a whole day off?" I couldn't remember.

So that day, we just spent the day together, out and about, doing no particular thing. It was great!

Later it dawned on me. You know, I have been so busy doing the Lord's work that I hadn't given myself the luxury of just resting in the Lord. Nor had I spent much time in quiet reflection, allowing God to speak to me.

Throughout the Psalms there is a term which shows up from time-to-time. It is the Hebrew word "selah". It's generally believed that selah means to pause -- probably a musical term, but one which has spiritual implications -- benefiting the singer, after pouring out his heart to the Lord, by giving God a chance to speak to his spirit.

Psalm 46:10 quotes our Creator: "Be still and know that I am God..." Of course we know that He is God, because we read about Him and see His handiwork in creation and sense Him when we pray and glimpse His glory when we worship Him. But how often do we know He is God in our stillness? Do we allow him that chance?

It is in those "selah" moments that we allow God to have His say. As we meditate on His word and on His person, He will speak. How can we expect to hear His "still small voice" when we are only talking or singing and not pausing to let Him?

So I guess this is my resolution -- to be still and know...

Happy New Year!