“Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10a NLT)
Tuesday I was sitting outside a major hospital in the area, early for an appointment. Several feet from the front door of the hospital, there is an open plaza, somewhat an oasis where one can sit still, saturate one’s mind with meditation, and see with God-conscious sight, all that surrounds you. Tuesday was a summer day towards the end of June, a time where you would expect the temperature to be scorching and the humidity to be stupendously unbearable. However, on this day that was not the case. The temperature was perfect, and the humidity was non-existent. I had brought my Bible and notebook to study while I waited for my follow-up appointment. After the Lord showed me a text for this coming Sunday’s sermon in this serene setting, and even supplying me with main points for Sunday’s sent message, I put away everything and just sat still and looked around, much like a spectator at a grand event. There were employees, patients, and other people walking back and forth to purchase food at a marketplace set up outside by the hospital, and they were all talking, but I heard nothing. I was meditating, not meddling. I had my mind on things above.
As I looked at the various types of trees dancing gently in the mild summer breeze, I thought about God our Creator. The sunlight was not hidden from view by any clouds and the sun’s rays touched everything in sight. I thought about God, the One who set the sun in its place at the time of creation and gave it its path to journey on a daily basis. I had a feeling of peace overcome me, realizing that our God cannot be topped when it comes to ingenuity or intelligence. In those areas, as with all other good characteristics, He is incomparable. Oh, what a mighty God we serve.
Every leaf on the trees was distinct, different, detailed and diverse. At first, I thought that this would be a great object lesson, but then I quickly resumed meditating and I arrived at agreeing with the poet, “Only God can make a tree.” Beside my feet I noticed the ants doing their work, fulfilling their purpose unstoppable and undisturbed by the surroundings. I thought, “Didn’t God create us for a purpose, and should we not be like the ants, unstoppable and undisturbed by the surroundings?”
Just a few steps in front of me was a shallow pool, shaped by its architect in a unique design. Water sprang up from the pool in several places, but usually not all at the same time. Again, my thoughts turned to God, the One who made it possible for us to have Living Water. It springs up here and there, as the Spirit convicts many that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Finally, I looked at the people. They were diverse in every way possible. One of the distinctions in the diversity was that some were health care providers, doctors, nurses and medical assistants, and some were patients. The former were seemingly happy, perhaps because they were given rest from their labor. Some even stretched out their arms and reminded me of eagles soaring through the air, high above the tragic circumstances and troubling situations that plague the world today. This made me think of how the Scriptures talk about waiting on the Lord and mounting up on wings like eagles. The patients, many in wheel chairs, escaping the four walls of their rooms, smiled as I am sure they were enjoying God’s creation as much as anyone else, including me. Suddenly, my mind gets back to the non-human parts of creation. I noticed flowers of various colors and not a one of them was asleep. It was like they were all looking towards the sky in praise. Oh, I tell you, it was not the vibrancy of the flowers that impressed me, but it was the direction they were looking. It was as if they too looked to the hills from whence commeth our help.
The time for my appointment was approaching, so I packed up my bag and headed towards the front entrance. Time did not permit me to be still on my concrete bench and know that The Lord, He is God. But as I walked toward the entry door, my mood was great because I had been blessed to really think about God and godly things. And, I was thankful, for it indeed was, like every other day, a day that the Lord had made.
Today, you may not be able to sit in the plaza like I did, but stop momentarily somewhere, be silent, even if noise surrounds you. Don’t say a word! Hear God tell you, “Be still and know that I am God.” Have a wonderful Friday! Praise the Creator from whom all blessings flow! Stay God-conscious! Be blessed!
“The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4 Contemporary English Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King