Peace be still. ( Mark 4 v 35 - 41 )

Let us return to v 10 of Psalm 46, 'Be still , and know that I am God',let us apply it in a broader way,these words from God are telling us to stop panicking, to be still,but not just be still to focus on God.We must be still as regards our actions and our words,that two is very hard .Many of us are like Martha full of action (Luke 10 v 40 - 41 )we are told she was distracted,she lost the plot,her mind focused on the negative,.The word of God of God tells us ,'you (God ) will keep in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast , because He trust in you.  ( Isaiah 26 v 3 )Steadfast means someone who is firm and determined, if we fix our mind on God,trust in God who is sovereign . All around us people may be panicking ,but we can know that perfect peace.We will be amazed how God will work for us,as we stand still, and trust in Him who is our refuge, strength, and helper.                                                                                        The wind and the waves shall obey my will,                                                                                             Peace be still.                                                                                                                                             Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea,                                                                                               Or demons, or men ,or whatever it be,                                                                                                       No water can swallow the ship where lies,                                                                                               The Master of ocean , and earth, and skies,                                                                                               They all shall sweetly obey my will;                                                                                                         Peace be still,Peace be still.                                                                                                                            ( Words Mary A Baker )

Therefore ( Psalm 46 )

Having declared that God is our refuge,strength,and helper,he further writes, ' Therefore'.the therefore is important, he is saying ,in light of God being our refuge,strength,and helper,we need not fear , no matter what trials we are facing,even if the the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The power of nature can be very destructive, be it tsunamis, earthquakes,hurricanes,well writes the Psalmist, let nature do its worse,because is our refuge ,strength,and helper, let us not be afraid.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Under His wings I am safely abiding;                                                                                                       Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,                                                                                     Still I can trust Him- I know He will keep me;                                                                                         He has redeemed me ,and I am His child.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow,                                                                                               How the heart yearningly returns to its rest,                                                                                             Often when earth has no balm for my healing,                                                                                         There I find comfort,and there I am blest.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment,                                                                                       There I will hide till life's trials are o'er,                                                                                                       Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;                                                                                               Resting in Jesus I'm safe evermore.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Under His wings, under His wings,                                                                                                           Who from His love can sever?.                                                                                                                 Under His wings shall abide,                                                                                                                     Safely abide for ever.                                                                                                                                       ( Words by Stephen  Manders)

God will help us. ( 2 Timothy 4 v 17 b - 18 )

'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble',we have looked at God as our refuge, and our strength ,yes He is all that and more. Now consider ,that He is a very present help when we are in trouble,God is with us, always,that cannot be said of anyone else,as to human help ,there may be at times no one available.The apostle Paul in his trials writes,'no one came near me,but everyone deserted me',so there he was in difficulties,everyone had deserted him,it can happen to anyone of us.Thankfully Paul does not stop at that point,no he goes unto write,'But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength'.( 2 Timothy v 16 - 17 )as with Paul, God will stand by us in our times of trouble.Not only will He stand by us He will help us,what ever help we need,be it financial ,as W Plumer writes, 'He will send timely supplies'.but whatever help we need, God is able and willing to provide.                                                                                                                                                                                                 No help that God cannot provide,                                                                                                           

God is . ( Psalm 46 v 1 )

Psalm 46 v 1, declares that God is not only our refuge, but He is our strength, one of the important lessons we need to learn in life in our walk with Christ,that  we are not strong,we are at best weak and fragile beings ,we are but dust ( Psalm 103 v 14 )When many of Gods children received their call to service, they proclaimed their weakness, Moses said,'Who am I  that I should go' ,'I am slow of speech',( Exodus 3 v 11/  4 v 10 ).Gideon said , 'I am the least in my family ( Judges 6 v 15), Jeremiah said,' I am only a boy,( Jeremiah 1 v 7 ) They were not exaggerating ,they were but earthen vessels, the Christian life  brings challenges that are to say the least difficult,but whatever the challenges are,, it is then we need to remember God is our strength. Like Paul we may have prayed and prayed, and prayed, to God telling Him we cant cope,it is to much to ask of any man,let me remind you and myself what He said to Paul,and what He is saying to us,'My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is made perfect in weakness. (  2 Corinthians 12 v 9 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ' I can do all things through  Christ                                                                                                             who strengthens me.'                                                                                                                                     ( Philippians 4 v 13 )

God is . ( Psalm 46 v 1 )

Psalm 46 has so much encouragement in it for Gods children,it opens with these lovely words,'God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble'.So often Israel, and David faced tremendous difficulties, enemies there were in plenty.Here the Psalmist reminds them and that God is a refuge,a refuge is a place safety,we have women's refuges,where they are kept safe from violent partners ,husbands.This was Martin Luther's favourite Psalm, in the darkest times he used to say ,''Come , let us sing the 46th Psalm , and let them do their worst''. Whatever dangers we are facing now,or in the future,God is and will be our refuge,our safety  not in a place,possessions,or whatever, but in the person of our sovereign God. He well able to keep us safe.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'Plagues and deaths around me fly;                                                                                                             Till He bids, I cannot die;                                                                                                                           Not a single shaft can hit,                                                                                                                           Till the God of love sees fit'                                                                                                                                ( John Ryland )

Go tell. ( Acts 1 v 8 )

I have a little scriptural text in my bathroom,which reads 'Be still and know that I am God'',( Psalm 46 v 10) in context God is telling us that He will be glorified in all earth.And of course He is being glorified as people of all the earth embrace the gospel of our Lord  Jesus Christ, in spite  of all the opposition,in spite of the indifference of people in this country. We are seeing the reality of our Saviours words that He will build His church ( Matthew 16 v 18 ).How? by the power of the Spirit of God,and by men and women filled by that power, proclaiming the message that Jesus saves. Before Jesus left this world and returned to heaven  He said,' Go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing  them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  ( Matthew 28 v 19 - 20 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            'Here am I, send me.'                                                                                                                                      ( Isaiah 6 v 8 )

Lust ( John 4 v 13 v 14 )

Raymond Brown writes the following,'A lustful appetite can never be satisfied,'and that lusting for be it material,sex,money' far from quenching our thirst,only intensifies the desire more'.There is one most meaningful passages in the Bible on this , found in  John 4,it is about a woman whom Jesus spoke to,it all took place beside an ancient well.Jesus was tired and sat down by the well.Now as He sat there  a woman came to draw some water from the well,as she was drawing water from the well Jesus asked for a drink,He was a Jew she was a Samaritan,Jews had no dealings with Samaritan,and so she raised that issue ,Jesus did not address that issue ,but said that He if she asked Him she could receive living water from Him.Jesus went on to say,everyone who drinks this water would thirst again,but whoever drinks of the water He would give,would never thirst again'.What Jesus meant was that only He alone can satisfy our greatest need.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             O Christ, in Thee my soul hath found,                                                                                                       And found in Thee alone,                                                                                                                           The peace, the joy I sought so long,                                                                                                            The bliss till now unknown.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I sighed for rest and happiness,                                                                                                                  I yearned for them ,not Thee,                                                                                                                    By while I passed my Saviour by,                                                                                                              His love laid hold on me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Now none but Christ can satisfy,                                                                                                                None other name for me,                                                                                                                             There's love and life and lasting joy,                                                                                                         Lord Jesus found in Thee.