Thursday, February 12, 2009

Receiving From God--How Sweet It Is


"Be still and know that I am God." 

Now, that's my favorite thing to do. But in earlier years? I didn't get it. I thought that you could only feel close to God if you...

...drove to Bible studies (lots of 'em)
and traveled to Christian conventions
and went to every meeting at church
and read chapters and chapters of the Bible everyday
(so you could make all those check marks on Bible charts).

And if you tried really, really hard--

to be a Good Girl
and said everything right
and did everything right
and performed extra good deeds to make up for your mistakes
and got all A's on your report card from God...

But you know? It was in 'being still and knowing that He is God' where my Life totally changed and Peace came and stayed. Grace, she came and stayed, also.

When I learned simply to receive from God instead of always trying to--

take and get
and earn and force
and cry and struggle
and beg and plead
to get something from Him

--that's when all became brand new. When I learned to receive.

Receiving instead of creating or following formulas on how to get God to do something for me, that's what made all the difference--

--and continues to do so to this very hour. How amazing I can be still and know God at my table with a cup of coffee and we can have a life-altering time. Right here. Right now on a Thursday morning at home.



It still blows my mind.


******



"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

"Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him." Matthew 20:34


"I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Galations 1:12

10 comments:

Judy said...

Amen, sister.

Elizabeth said...

Beautifully said Debra !

Elizabeth(simplepleasures)

Patty H. said...

Awesome!!

... Paige said...

Awesome post and thanks for introducing me to Aunt Amelia; what a fund lady!

Lisa in Texas = ) said...

What a fantastic post. This past week I have been struggling with somethings with my extended family and so I have been thinking alot of Ps. 46:10. So it was so great to come to your blog and see you talking about it.
Thanks so much - May God bless you in a special way today!!
Lisa in Texas = )

Anonymous said...

Love this post Debra. So comforting and calming. Thanks so much for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more, when I was growing up I went to church all the time & I thought thats how you got close to God, until I got older & realized I can talk to Him, feel Him, and Hear Him no matter where I am, praywer works when you truly believe and surrender all to Him, not just when your in seat at some church. I've learned to just let go, Listen to him and pretty much keep my mouth shut when I want to open it the most & let him guide me when I want to lead the most.
I find so much insperation from you, you're like a the light I needed, see God lead me to your blog when I was sitting at the computer feeling the most lonley...(corny huh)? *huge hug*

Anonymous said...

Debra, I just loved this post. So simple and so clear. Dolores

Anonymous said...

Dear Debra,
Your thoughts echo my own! I've been telling Elizabeth lately that the Church (system) seems to keep enlarging it events calendar of Studies, Conferences, Men's & Women's Meeings as a way of "keeping the flock from straying." I love my Church (Body of Christ) and I am well fed. But it is in my daily walk with Christ that I am continually being fed and nurtured. The Flock can give me "connectivity" with others (which is needful), BUT my relationship with Christ is my Rock Solid Foundation.

Roger

Anonymous said...

Oh How I know in my mind the need to BE Still and Know- Lord make it more cultivated in my heart. I so much of the time live as a human doing instead of a human being!

Thanks for the reminder!

blessings
mary