Psalm 46:10–11: “Be still, and know that I am God; / I will be exalted among the nations, / I will be exalted in the earth! / The Lord of hosts is with us; / The God of Jacob is our refuge.”

This is a powerful yet calming piece of Scripture. The message is not only that we are to be calm but also that we are to remember that God is in control. He invites us to hear Him, but we are often too busy or just unwilling to listen. The clamoring noise of our own self-interest distracts us, causing us to miss His voice. Over and over again God invites us into the silence that surrounds us. The Designer knows that we frequently need to be brought into a place of quiet, silent rest.

It has been suggested that after silence, music is the nearest thing to expressing the inexpressible. Perhaps that is why the psalmist wrote in his song: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Frequently, when we listen to songs written to worship the Lord, we sense Him near us. Often the melody and the words express our feelings, our hunger, and our need of Him in a way that we could not.

Here is a challenge. It’s an easy one; set aside some time, say about half an hour. Spend that short time in contact with God. Take 30 minutes and let your soul be still to know your God. You may chose to listen to praise music while meditating on the words and music, or you may chose to read psalms of praise. Be still and know the Lord. And when you are through, take a minute and write a line or two about this personal time away with God.

“LORD, speak, Your servants are listening.”