Weve created more information in the last five years than in all of human history before it, and its coming at us all the time (Daniel Levitin, author of The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload). In a sense, Levitin says, we become addicted to the hyperstimulation. The constant barrage of news and knowledge can dominate our minds. In todays environment of media bombardment, it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to be quiet, to think, and to pray.
Psalm 46:10 says, Be still, and know that I am God, reminding us of the necessity to take time to focus on the Lord. Many people find that a quiet time is an essential part of each daya time to read the Bible, pray, and consider the goodness and greatness of God.
When we, like the writer of Psalm 46, experience the reality that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (v. 1), it drives our fear away (v. 2), shifts our focus from the worlds turmoil to Gods peace, and creates a quiet confidence that our Lord is in control (v. 10).
No matter how chaotic the world may become around us, we can find quietness and strength in our heavenly Fathers love and power.
Getting away to a quiet place can be a way to settle our thoughts. But sometimes the thought of being alone with our thoughts is uncomfortable. Psalm 46 speaks to us about being quiet in the presence of the God of Jacob, who is our fortress. Jacob (later named Israel) was a rascal, a liar, and a fugitive from his family.
Jacob struggled with God and God determined Jacob would know Him (see Gen. 32:2232). It is through Jacobs line centuries later that Jesus was born to offer us peace and forgiveness.
What could it mean to be still before God, who desired to lovingly father people like Jacob and who desires to be in intimate relationship with each of us? Mart DeHaan