“But know that the Lord has set apart him that is Godly for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call unto Him. Stand in awe and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Selah.”
Psalm 4:3-4
When sleep eludes you, escape into His Presence.
Why is it that we feel we somehow need to go to some far-off, secluded place in order to “be still and know that He is God” (Ps. 46:10)? While remote mountain hideaways and idyllic seashore settings are conducive to communion, they are also usually expensive and infrequent getaways (unless we happen to live in one of those locations).
That’s why today’s Manna reminds us of a beautiful place of quiet communion right under our own roofs: “Commune with your own heart upon your own bed and be still.”
While the bed is intended to help provide rest from the day’s activities, too often one’s mind has difficulty shutting down once there. Thoughts of what happened during the day. . .what’s scheduled for tomorrow. . .memories of what used to be. . .loved ones we used to love, but now are gone. . .fears over what might be, etc., all have a tendency of flooding our hearts and minds if we let them.
That’s why we must ask the Holy Spirit’s aid in “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God by bringing every thought into Jesus’ control” (II Cor. 10:5).
Simply put, so often a whirrrrrring mind is a worrying mind.
And, it’s impossible to have communion in the midst of mental confusion or commotion.
So, again, it will take the Spirit’s assistance and our intentional “capturing” of our thoughts before we can experience today’s Manna firsthand. And, only then can we know the beauty of Isaiah’s words in Is. 26:3 (“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon You—for he trusts in You”) and 30:15b (“. . .in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. . .”).
Look at David’s words in our Manna one more time:
“But know that the Lord has set apart (Heb. ‘palah’—‘to distinguish, put a difference, separate, show marvelous, make wonderfully, etc.’) him that is Godly for Himself.” Or, another way to put it is “The Lord has marked the one who desires communion with Him and will readily make time available for him when he calls upon Him.” Glory!!
This should cause us to “stand in awe and sin not” by earnestly desiring to live a holy life. Anything that’s clouding His Countenance from our view should be cast down and not allowed to “exalt itself” (II Cor. 10:5b). This will likely require an intentional changing of schedules and a refusal to entertain thoughts and emotions that draw us away from Him.
Only then will we experience the blessed communion David talked about as our hearts and minds rise up to meet the Risen Lord. And, only then will we experience His “Peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). Help us, O Lord, to learn how “to be still and know that You are God”—for only then will our sleep (and our living) be sweet and lives complete.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated 21, 2010