God is worthy of our praise. We are called to worship Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). We are to worship Him with our lives (Romans 12:1). We are to worship Him at all times, whether those times are good or bad. This is not always easy for us. When faced with difficulties, we may not feel like worshiping, we may not feel like making a joyful noise. I am the first to admit that there have been times in my life when I have allowed things that I am facing to keep me from giving God the praise and the worship that is due Him. I allowed my circumstances to stifle my desire to worship Him with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God… I will be exalted in the earth.” What does it mean to be still? Does it mean being quiet? Does it mean resting rather than striving? Certainly, when we are quiet and when we are at rest, it is easier to know that He is God. But being quiet or being at rest does not necessarily mean we are allowing God to make Himself known to us. These things do not guarantee that our hearts, minds, soul, and strength are being used to know Him and to exalt Him.
The Hebrew word raphah, translated as “be still” can also be translated as “let go.” So, to “be still” also means to let go of the things that hinder our praise. Is sickness getting in the way of praising God? Let go and know that He is the God who heals (Psalm 103:3). Are finances causing you to give God less of your praise than He deserves? Let go and know that He is the God who provides for you (Matthew 6:25-33). Are you in a pit so deep that you don’t really have the desire to worship that you once had? Let go and know that He is the God who saves, our very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). He can reach you in the deepest and darkest pit that you may find yourself in (Psalm 103:4).
Being still means letting go of our circumstances so that we can exalt God and allow Him to have His rightful place in our lives. It means letting go of sickness, letting go of financial troubles, letting go of anything that hinders our worship. It means letting go and praising God with all that we have: heart, mind, soul, and strength.
A Worshiper's Journal 